The basicsIs it legal to copy congressional trades?
Yes. The STOCK Act of 2012 requires senators and representatives (and senior staff) to publicly disclose their securities transactions. Because those disclosures are public records, acting on them is completely legal — you're using the same information any journalist or researcher can pull. What you're not doing is front-running or trading on inside information; by the time you see a filing, the trade already happened.
How it worksThe disclosure system, in plain English
Every covered official files a Periodic Transaction Report (PTR) whenever they trade. Each report lists the ticker, whether it was a buy or a sell, the transaction date, and a dollar range (not an exact amount). Related company insiders separately file Form 4 reports with the SEC, which show up on EDGAR within a couple of business days.
The wrinkle: PTRs are published as scanned-style filings on slow government portals. They're searchable if you're patient, but they're unstructured, noisy, and very easy to miss on the day they matter.
The stepsHow to actually copy a congressional trade
Find the official filings
Start at the House Clerk and Senate eFD disclosure portals — both free and public. For related corporate insiders, use SEC EDGAR Form 4 filings.
Filter for meaningful trades
Ignore the noise. Weight larger transactions, buys over sells, and members sitting on committees with relevant oversight — those tend to carry more signal than a routine index-fund rebalance.
Account for the reporting lag
A trade can be reported up to 30–45 days after it happens. You're following after the fact, so the current price will differ — sometimes a lot — from the disclosed trade.
Size the position for the lag
Treat a copied trade as a thesis to research, not a price to chase. Size conservatively, set your own stop, and decide your risk before you click buy.
Track it in real time
Either check the portals yourself every day, or let a feed repost new filings the moment they drop so you never miss the window. That second option is what most people end up doing.
The catchWhy "just copy Pelosi" isn't a strategy
The reporting lag is the whole game. Headlines love a single big trade, but by the time it's news, the disclosure is often weeks old and the move may already be priced in. The traders who get value from this treat congressional filings as one input — a starting point for research, cross-checked against options flow, insider buying, and the actual chart — not a copy-paste signal.
That's the difference between watching a tracker and being in a room where the filing lands next to the flow, the insider buys, and someone explaining what it might mean.
Let the filings come to you
Follow The Money collects congressional trade reports the moment they hit the portals and posts them to a beginner-friendly Discord — no charts, no jargon, no experience needed.
See Follow The Money → Part of Main Street Trades · 7-day free trialFAQCommon questions
Is it legal to copy congressional stock trades?
Yes. Congress must disclose trades under the STOCK Act, and those filings are public records. Acting on public information is legal. This is educational information, not investment advice.
Where can I see congressional stock trades for free?
The House Clerk and Senate eFD portals publish the reports for free. They're just slow, unstructured, and easy to miss — which is why most people use a tracker or a feed that reposts them.
How fast do congressional trades get reported?
Up to 30–45 days after the trade under the STOCK Act. That lag is the single most important thing to understand before copying any of them — you're always following after the fact.
How does Main Street Trades track them?
Our Follow The Money feed collects the Periodic Transaction Reports the moment they hit the House and Senate portals and posts them to a beginner-friendly Discord in plain English.