Package 'washex' reference manual

Title:	Washington State Legislative Explorer
Description:	Gets data from the Washington State Legislature.
Authors:	Rohnin Randles [aut, cre]
Maintainer:	Rohnin Randles <[email protected]>
License:	MIT + file LICENSE
Version:	1.2.0
Built:	2025-02-17 05:46:08 UTC
Source:	https://github.com/rwrandles/washex-r

Link bills to Revised Code of Washington (RCW)

Description

Get a listing of all RCW citations affected by a given bill

Usage

getAffectedRCW(biennium, billId, paired = TRUE, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))
getAffectedRCW(biennium, billId, paired = TRUE, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`billId`	Character vector containing the bill(s) to be retrieved. Each argument should take the form "XX YYYY", where XX is the prefix (HB, SB, etc.) and YYYY is the bill number.
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getAffectedRCW returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Note

for more information on RCW codes, see https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/

Examples

## usage for a single bill case, XML form
getAffectedRCW("2005-06", "HB 1427", type = "xml")

## generates a dataframe of affected codes from all bills in 2007
## Not run: 
bills <- getLegislationByYear("2007")
codesAffected <- getAffectedRCW("2007-08", bills$BillId)
## End(Not run)

## usage for a single bill case, XML form
getAffectedRCW("2005-06", "HB 1427", type = "xml")

## generates a dataframe of affected codes from all bills in 2007
## Not run: 
bills <- getLegislationByYear("2007")
codesAffected <- getAffectedRCW("2007-08", bills$BillId)
## End(Not run)

Get amendments to a bill

Description

Get a list of all proposed amendments (accepted and rejected) on the bill, including the URL to the amendment text

Usage

getAmendments(
  biennium,
  billNumber,
  paired = TRUE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)
getAmendments(
  biennium,
  billNumber,
  paired = TRUE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`billNumber`	Character or numeric vector containing the bill number(s) to be retrieved.
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getAmendments returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Examples

## get amendments for a single bill
getAmendments("2007-08", "1001")

## get amendments for a specific set of bills
years <- c("2005-06","2007-08","2007-08")
bills <- c(1447,1219,1001)

getAmendments(years, bills, paired = TRUE, type = "df")
## get amendments for a single bill
getAmendments("2007-08", "1001")

## get amendments for a specific set of bills
years <- c("2005-06","2007-08","2007-08")
bills <- c(1447,1219,1001)

getAmendments(years, bills, paired = TRUE, type = "df")

Get sponsor information for a bill

Description

Get sponsor information for a bill

Usage

getBillSponsors(biennium, billId, paired = TRUE, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))
getBillSponsors(biennium, billId, paired = TRUE, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`billId`	Character vector containing the bill(s) to be retrieved. Each argument should take the form "XX YYYY", where XX is the prefix (HB, SB, etc.) and YYYY is the bill number.
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getBillSponsors returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Examples

## get the list of all sponsors on a set of bills, filtered for primary sponsorship

spons <- getBillSponsors("2007-08", c("HB 1001", "HB 1002", "HB 1003"))
if(!is.null(spons)) sponsP <- subset(spons, Type == "Primary")
## get the list of all sponsors on a set of bills, filtered for primary sponsorship

spons <- getBillSponsors("2007-08", c("HB 1001", "HB 1002", "HB 1003"))
if(!is.null(spons)) sponsP <- subset(spons, Type == "Primary")

Get committee members

Description

Get committee members

Usage

getCommitteeMembers(
  biennium,
  agency = c("House", "Senate"),
  name,
  paired = FALSE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)
getCommitteeMembers(
  biennium,
  agency = c("House", "Senate"),
  name,
  paired = FALSE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`agency`	One of "House" or "Senate", or a vector with these as its elements.
`name`	Character vector of committee names. To get the committee names for a particular session, see `getCommittees`.
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getCommitteeMembers returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Examples

## get all committee members for a select number of committees and years
years <- c("2011-12","2013-14")
comms <- c("Education","Judiciary")

getCommitteeMembers(years, agency = "House", comms, paired = TRUE)
## get all committee members for a select number of committees and years
years <- c("2011-12","2013-14")
comms <- c("Education","Judiciary")

getCommitteeMembers(years, agency = "House", comms, paired = TRUE)

Get legislative committees

Description

Get a list of all committees that were active during the biennium, along with their respective committee code

Usage

getCommittees(biennium, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))
getCommittees(biennium, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getCommittees returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Examples

getCommittees("2007-08")
getCommittees("2007-08")

Get bill status

Description

Get the current status of a given bill

Usage

getCurrentStatus(
  biennium,
  billNumber,
  paired = TRUE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)
getCurrentStatus(
  biennium,
  billNumber,
  paired = TRUE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`billNumber`	Character or numeric vector containing the bill number(s) to be retrieved.
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getCurrentStatus returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Note

This function returns the bill's status as of today. If a bill was never passed, it lists the most recent status. To get a bill's complete history, use getStatusChanges

Examples

getCurrentStatus("2007-08", "1001")

## get final status for all bills written in 2011
## Not run: 
billNums <- getLegislationByYear("2011")
status <- getCurrentStatus("2011-12", billNums$billNumber)
## End(Not run)

getCurrentStatus("2007-08", "1001")

## get final status for all bills written in 2011
## Not run: 
billNums <- getLegislationByYear("2011")
status <- getCurrentStatus("2011-12", billNums$billNumber)
## End(Not run)

Get hearings regarding a bill

Description

Get a list of dates, locations, and descriptions of all committee hearings on a particular bill

Usage

getHearings(biennium, billNumber, paired = TRUE, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))
getHearings(biennium, billNumber, paired = TRUE, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`billNumber`	Character or numeric vector containing the bill number(s) to be retrieved.
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getHearings returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Note

Due to the nature of the resulting XML document, the function trims data from excessively nested lists when type = "df". In order to access the full information, use type = "list" instead.

Examples

## get hearings for all senate bills in 2011
bills <- getLegislationByYear("2011")
if(!is.null(bills)) billsSenate <- subset(bills, OriginalAgency == "Senate")

## Not run: getHearings(billsSenate$Biennium, billsSenate$BillNumber, paired = TRUE, type = "df")

## get hearings for all senate bills in 2011
bills <- getLegislationByYear("2011")
if(!is.null(bills)) billsSenate <- subset(bills, OriginalAgency == "Senate")

## Not run: getHearings(billsSenate$Biennium, billsSenate$BillNumber, paired = TRUE, type = "df")

Get summary information on a particular bill

Description

Get legislative summary information for a particular bill, including bill ID, introduction date, bill title(s), and description

Usage

getLegislation(
  biennium,
  billNumber,
  paired = TRUE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)
getLegislation(
  biennium,
  billNumber,
  paired = TRUE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`billNumber`	Character or numeric vector containing the bill number(s) to be retrieved.
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getLegislation returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Examples

getLegislation("2007-08", "1001")

## get XML data for the first 100 hundred bills of the 2007-08 session
## Not run: getLegislation("2007-08", 1001:1100, type = "xml")
getLegislation("2007-08", "1001")

## get XML data for the first 100 hundred bills of the 2007-08 session
## Not run: getLegislation("2007-08", 1001:1100, type = "xml")

Get legislation by year

Description

Get a list of all bills introduced during the year

Usage

getLegislationByYear(year, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))
getLegislationByYear(year, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))

Arguments

`year`	Character or numeric vector representing the year(s) to be searched.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getLegislationByYear returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Examples

## Not run: getLegislationByYear("2007")
## Not run: getLegislationByYear("2007")

Get all bills signed into law

Description

Get a dataframe containing all of the bills that originated in a given chamber and were eventually signed into law

Usage

getLegislationSigned(
  biennium,
  agency = c("House", "Senate"),
  paired = FALSE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)
getLegislationSigned(
  biennium,
  agency = c("House", "Senate"),
  paired = FALSE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`agency`	One of "House" or "Senate", or a vector with these as its elements.
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getLegislationSigned returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Examples

## get all bills signed into law from the Senate between 2007-2010
bienniums <- c("2007-08", "2009-10")
getLegislationSigned(bienniums, "Senate")
## get all bills signed into law from the Senate between 2007-2010
bienniums <- c("2007-08", "2009-10")
getLegislationSigned(bienniums, "Senate")

Search for bills based on Revised Code (RCW) citations

Description

Get a list of all bills which reference or amend a particular portion of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW)

Usage

getRCWBills(biennium, rcwCite, paired = FALSE, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))
getRCWBills(biennium, rcwCite, paired = FALSE, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`rcwCite`	Character vector for the citation in the RCW to pull legislation from. Optional extensions for title, chapter, and section are allowed. For more information, see https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getRCWBills returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Examples

getRCWBills("2007-08", "13.40.0357")
getRCWBills("2007-08", "13.40.0357")

Get roll call votes

Description

Get an XML containing roll call information for all recorded votes on a bill

Usage

getRollCalls.xml(biennium, billNumber, paired = TRUE)

getRollCalls.summary(
  biennium,
  billNumber,
  paired = TRUE,
  type = c("df", "list")
)

getRollCalls.votes(biennium, billNumber, paired = TRUE, type = c("df", "list"))
getRollCalls.xml(biennium, billNumber, paired = TRUE)

getRollCalls.summary(
  biennium,
  billNumber,
  paired = TRUE,
  type = c("df", "list")
)

getRollCalls.votes(biennium, billNumber, paired = TRUE, type = c("df", "list"))

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`billNumber`	Character or numeric vector containing the bill number(s) to be retrieved.
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getRollCalls.xml returns a list of XML objects for each bill. getRollCalls.summary and getRollCalls.votes return objects of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Note

Due to the nested nature of the resulting document, we provide various functions to present simplified views of the data that are compatible with more parsimonious data structures. To see the full, original data, use getRollCalls.xml instead.

Examples

votes <- getRollCalls.summary("2007-08", "1001") # get roll call votes
if(!is.null(votes)) {
  length(votes) # total number of roll call votes recorded
  votes$CountYeas[3] # number of yea votes on roll call vote #3
}

## example: get member id's for all representatives voting against the bill
## on final passage
votes <- getRollCalls.votes("2007-08", "1001")
if(!is.null(votes)) {
  nay_votesFP <- subset(votes, (Motion == "Final Passage" & Vote == "Nay"))
  print(nay_votesFP$MemberId)
}

votes <- getRollCalls.summary("2007-08", "1001") # get roll call votes
if(!is.null(votes)) {
  length(votes) # total number of roll call votes recorded
  votes$CountYeas[3] # number of yea votes on roll call vote #3
}

## example: get member id's for all representatives voting against the bill
## on final passage
votes <- getRollCalls.votes("2007-08", "1001")
if(!is.null(votes)) {
  nay_votesFP <- subset(votes, (Motion == "Final Passage" & Vote == "Nay"))
  print(nay_votesFP$MemberId)
}

Get legislators

Description

Get a list of all sponsors (all congressmembers) for a given biennium

Usage

getSponsors(biennium, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))
getSponsors(biennium, type = c("df", "list", "xml"))

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getSponsors returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Examples

getSponsors("2007-08")
getSponsors("2007-08")

Track historical progess on a bill

Description

Get a complete history of all status changes that occurred on a particular bill

Usage

getStatusChanges(
  biennium,
  billNumber,
  paired = TRUE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)
getStatusChanges(
  biennium,
  billNumber,
  paired = TRUE,
  type = c("df", "list", "xml")
)

Arguments

`biennium`	Character vector representing the biennium(s) to be searched. Each argument should take the form "XXXX-YY"
`billNumber`	Character or numeric vector containing the bill number(s) to be retrieved.
`paired`	If TRUE, will assume that equal length vectors represent paired data. Set to FALSE to generate an NxN grid of input arguments. Applies to equal length vector inputs only.
`type`	One of "df", "list", or "xml". Specifies the format for the output.

Value

getStatusChanges returns an object of type equal to the type argument (defaults to dataframe)

Examples

getStatusChanges("2007-08", "1001", type = "list")
getStatusChanges("2007-08", "1001", type = "list")

Package 'washex'

Help Index

Link bills to Revised Code of Washington (RCW)

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Note

Examples

Get amendments to a bill

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Examples

Get sponsor information for a bill

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Examples

Get committee members

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Examples

Get legislative committees

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Examples

Get bill status

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Note

Examples

Get hearings regarding a bill

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Note

Examples

Get summary information on a particular bill

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Examples

Get legislation by year

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Examples

Get all bills signed into law

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Examples

Search for bills based on Revised Code (RCW) citations

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Examples

Get roll call votes

Description

Usage

Arguments

Value

Note

Examples

Get legislators

Description