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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 6, 2006 | MI | HB 5143 | "Self-Defense Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
June 28, 2006 | PA | HB 804 | Handheld Cell Phone Ban While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
Feb. 20, 2006 | VA | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
April 28, 2006 | ME | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
May 7, 2006 | AK | HCS CS SB 20 | Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
April 25, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
April 25, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
May 3, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
May 3, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
Feb. 15, 2006 | ID | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
March 2, 2006 | National | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
March 2, 2006 | National | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
June 15, 2006 | National | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1) |
May 4, 2006 | National | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21) |
Sept. 29, 2006 | National | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19) |
March 30, 2006 | NE | LB 454 | Concealed Handgun Permit Act | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
May 26, 2006 | National | PN 1552 | Michael Hayden, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 15) |
Feb. 14, 2006 | ID | S 1327 | Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Feb. 28, 2006 | ID | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
Feb. 28, 2006 | ID | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
May 3, 2006 | RI | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
May 3, 2006 | RI | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
May 25, 2006 | National | S 2611 | Immigration Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
June 13, 2006 | NY | S 6771 | Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 23) |
June 21, 2006 | NY | S 8446 | DNA Database Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2) |
June 21, 2006 | NY | S 8446 | DNA Database Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2) |
Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
March 16, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3166 | National Defense Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
July 12, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4553 | Rail and Transit Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
July 11, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4560 | USEMA Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (87 - 11) |
July 11, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4563 | FEMA Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 66) |
July 12, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4587 | Transit Security Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
July 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4615 | Firearm Confiscation Prohibition Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 16) |
July 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4659 | Double-Layered Fencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (29 - 71) |
Aug. 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4775 | Triple-Layered Fencing Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3) |
Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4936 | National Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57) |
Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5104 | Military Commissions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52) |
Jan. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
Jan. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
June 27, 2006 | CA | SB 1137 | Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
6/06 | HB 5143 | "Self-Defense Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
6/28 | HB 804 | Handheld Cell Phone Ban While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
2/20 | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
4/28 | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
5/07 | HCS CS SB 20 | Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
4/25 | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
4/25 | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
5/03 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
5/03 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
2/15 | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
3/02 | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
3/02 | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
6/15 | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1) |
5/04 | HR 4939 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21) |
9/29 | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19) |
3/30 | LB 454 | Concealed Handgun Permit Act | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
5/26 | PN 1552 | Michael Hayden, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 15) |
2/14 | S 1327 | Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
2/28 | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
2/28 | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
5/03 | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
5/03 | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
5/25 | S 2611 | Immigration Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36) |
9/28 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
9/28 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
9/28 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
6/13 | S 6771 | Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 23) |
6/21 | S 8446 | DNA Database Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2) |
6/21 | S 8446 | DNA Database Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2) |
2/22 | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
2/22 | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
3/16 | S Amdt 3166 | National Defense Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
7/12 | S Amdt 4553 | Rail and Transit Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
7/11 | S Amdt 4560 | USEMA Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (87 - 11) |
7/11 | S Amdt 4563 | FEMA Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 66) |
7/12 | S Amdt 4587 | Transit Security Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
7/13 | S Amdt 4615 | Firearm Confiscation Prohibition Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 16) |
7/13 | S Amdt 4659 | Double-Layered Fencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (29 - 71) |
8/02 | S Amdt 4775 | Triple-Layered Fencing Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3) |
9/13 | S Amdt 4936 | National Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57) |
9/13 | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
9/28 | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
9/28 | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
9/28 | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
9/28 | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
9/28 | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
9/28 | S Amdt 5104 | Military Commissions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52) |
1/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
1/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
6/27 | SB 1137 | Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |