Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 21, 2006 | NH | HB 1682 | Emergency Contraceptives Requirement | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (189 - 118) |
March 16, 2006 | NH | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
March 21, 2006 | NH | CACR 34 | Marriage Definition | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 125) |
March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1498 | Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111) |
March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1588 | Residency Verification for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 106) |
March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1495 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 128) |
March 9, 2006 | NH | HB 1492 | Emergency Contraceptives and Pharmacists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (215 - 106) |
March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1517 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 109) |
March 24, 2009 | NH | HB 531 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortion | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (216 - 160) |
June 14, 2006 | SC | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 31) |
Feb. 28, 2008 | WI | A Amnd. 2 | Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43) |
Nov. 8, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1132 | Prohibiting the Death Penalty for Minors | Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 41) |
March 29, 2006 | SC | Amendment 63 | Cigarette Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (58 - 53) |
May 30, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. P-2B | State Scholarships for Private Schools | Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15) |
April 2, 1992 | National | S Amdt 1757 | Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
June 15, 2007 | RI | Article 22 of H5300A | Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19) |
Oct. 10, 2007 | OH | Amendment | Foster Parent Confidentiality | Amendment Adopted - House (52 - 44) |
June 21, 1995 | National | S Amdt 1446 | Drinking and Driving Minors Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
Nov. 5, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1117 | Charging Teens as Adults for Crimes Involving a Firearm | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 23) |
Oct. 8, 1998 | National | H Amdt 923 | Contraceptive Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200) |
Oct. 8, 1998 | National | H Amdt 923 | Contraceptive Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200) |
Sept. 9, 1997 | National | H Amdt 335 | Family Planning Parental Notification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (220 - 201) |
March 28, 2006 | SC | Amdt 2B | Amendment Outlining Sentencing Guidelines for Those Convicted of Sexual Battery of Children | Amendment Adopted - Senate (34 - 4) |
July 12, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1280 | Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193) |
July 12, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1280 | Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193) |
Sept. 20, 1995 | National | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
Aug. 6, 1998 | National | H Amdt 874 | Low Income Educational Scholarship Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 208) |
April 28, 2008 | MN | Walker Amdt to SF 3001 | Sex Education in Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (79 - 53) |
Aug. 7, 1998 | National | H Amdt 871 | Adoption Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192) |
Sept. 4, 1997 | National | H Amdt 318 | International Family Planning amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (234 - 191) |
Dec. 3, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2791 | Preventive Services Coverage Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
May 18, 2006 | MI | Amend | Welfare Ineligibility Extension | Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 47) |
May 18, 2006 | MI | Amend | Welfare Restrictions for Drug Felonys | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 16) |
May 18, 2006 | MI | Amend | Probation and Parole Violator Welfare Restriction | Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 16) |
Feb. 7, 2006 | SD | H Amdt 1194rf | Penalties for School Employees for Dispensing Contraceptives Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (37 - 33) |
June 24, 1998 | National | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 36) |
Sept. 8, 1993 | National | HR 2010 | National Service Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 40) |
Aug. 6, 1993 | National | HR 2010 | National Service Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (275 - 152) |
June 18, 1998 | National | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 197) |
Nov. 14, 2007 | National | HR 1429 | Head Start Act of 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 36) |
Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
Aug. 1, 1996 | National | HR 3734 | Welfare Reform Act of 1996 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 21) |
July 31, 1996 | National | HR 3734 | Welfare Reform Act of 1996 | Conference Report Adopted - House (328 - 101) |
Oct. 29, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 28) |
Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4359 | 2007-2008 Public School Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 5) |
Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 50) |
Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16) |
Dec. 22, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
Dec. 21, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (245 - 178) |
Sept. 23, 2004 | National | HR 1308 | Child Tax Credit Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 3) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
3/21 | HB 1682 | Emergency Contraceptives Requirement | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (189 - 118) |
3/16 | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
3/21 | CACR 34 | Marriage Definition | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 125) |
3/13 | HB 1498 | Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111) |
3/13 | HB 1588 | Residency Verification for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 106) |
3/13 | HB 1495 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 128) |
3/09 | HB 1492 | Emergency Contraceptives and Pharmacists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (215 - 106) |
3/13 | HB 1517 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 109) |
3/24 | HB 531 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortion | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (216 - 160) |
6/14 | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 31) |
2/28 | A Amnd. 2 | Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43) |
11/08 | S Amdt 1132 | Prohibiting the Death Penalty for Minors | Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 41) |
3/29 | Amendment 63 | Cigarette Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (58 - 53) |
5/30 | Amendment No. P-2B | State Scholarships for Private Schools | Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15) |
4/02 | S Amdt 1757 | Prohibiting Federal Funding of Human Sexual Behavior Surveys | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
6/15 | Article 22 of H5300A | Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19) |
10/10 | Amendment | Foster Parent Confidentiality | Amendment Adopted - House (52 - 44) |
6/21 | S Amdt 1446 | Drinking and Driving Minors Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
11/05 | S Amdt 1117 | Charging Teens as Adults for Crimes Involving a Firearm | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 23) |
10/08 | H Amdt 923 | Contraceptive Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200) |
10/08 | H Amdt 923 | Contraceptive Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200) |
9/09 | H Amdt 335 | Family Planning Parental Notification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (220 - 201) |
3/28 | Amdt 2B | Amendment Outlining Sentencing Guidelines for Those Convicted of Sexual Battery of Children | Amendment Adopted - Senate (34 - 4) |
7/12 | H Amdt 1280 | Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193) |
7/12 | H Amdt 1280 | Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193) |
9/20 | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
8/06 | H Amdt 874 | Low Income Educational Scholarship Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 208) |
4/28 | Walker Amdt to SF 3001 | Sex Education in Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (79 - 53) |
8/07 | H Amdt 871 | Adoption Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192) |
9/04 | H Amdt 318 | International Family Planning amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (234 - 191) |
12/03 | S Amdt 2791 | Preventive Services Coverage Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
5/18 | Amend | Welfare Ineligibility Extension | Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 47) |
5/18 | Amend | Welfare Restrictions for Drug Felonys | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 16) |
5/18 | Amend | Probation and Parole Violator Welfare Restriction | Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 16) |
2/07 | H Amdt 1194rf | Penalties for School Employees for Dispensing Contraceptives Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (37 - 33) |
6/24 | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 36) |
9/08 | HR 2010 | National Service Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 40) |
8/06 | HR 2010 | National Service Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (275 - 152) |
6/18 | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 197) |
11/14 | HR 1429 | Head Start Act of 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 36) |
10/30 | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
8/01 | HR 3734 | Welfare Reform Act of 1996 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 21) |
7/31 | HR 3734 | Welfare Reform Act of 1996 | Conference Report Adopted - House (328 - 101) |
10/29 | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 28) |
10/30 | S Sub for Sub HB 4359 | 2007-2008 Public School Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 5) |
10/31 | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 50) |
10/31 | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16) |
12/22 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
12/21 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (245 - 178) |
9/23 | HR 1308 | Child Tax Credit Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 3) |