Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
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)

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