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
May 4, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21)
May 4, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21)
June 29, 2006 National H Res 895 Intelligence and Law Enforcement Resolution Resolution Passed - House (227 - 183)
June 29, 2006 National S 3569 U.S. -Oman Free Trade Agreement Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 34)
March 7, 2006 National S 2271 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
Sept. 29, 2006 National HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19)
Sept. 29, 2006 National S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (250 - 170)
June 16, 2006 National H Res 861 Global War on Terror Resolution Passed - House (256 - 153)
June 16, 2006 National H Res 861 Global War on Terror Resolution Passed - House (256 - 153)
June 16, 2006 National H Res 861 Global War on Terror Resolution Passed - House (256 - 153)
June 20, 2006 National HR 5631 Defense Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (407 - 19)
June 20, 2006 National HR 5631 Defense Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (407 - 19)
July 20, 2006 National HR 5684 U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Bill Passed - House (221 - 205)
July 26, 2006 National HR 5682 U.S.and India Nuclear Cooperation Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (359 - 68)
Sept. 14, 2006 National HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (283 - 138)
Sept. 14, 2006 National HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (283 - 138)
Sept. 19, 2006 National HR 5684 U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 32)
Sept. 21, 2006 National HR 6095 Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (277 - 140)
Sept. 29, 2006 National S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (250 - 170)
March 16, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - House (348 - 71)
Sept. 27, 2006 National HR 6166 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (253 - 168)
Sept. 27, 2006 National HR 6166 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (253 - 168)
Sept. 29, 2006 National HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
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 6, 2006 National HR 5441 Department of Homeland Security Appropriation Act, 2007 Bill Passed - House (389 - 9)
June 6, 2006 National HR 5441 Department of Homeland Security Appropriation Act, 2007 Bill Passed - House (389 - 9)
June 9, 2006 National HR 5522 Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act Bill Passed - House (373 - 34)
Sept. 28, 2006 National HR 5825 Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act Bill Passed - House (232 - 191)
March 16, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - House (348 - 71)
March 16, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - House (348 - 71)
April 13, 2006 NE LB 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
April 13, 2006 NE LB 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
Feb. 1, 2006 NH HB 345 Photo ID for Voting Bill Passed - House (211 - 149)
April 13, 2006 NH HB 345 Photo ID for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
March 21, 2006 OH HCR 36 Apportioning U.S. House Seats Resolution Passed - House (71 - 23)
March 14, 2006 OK HCS HB 3119 Voter ID, Repealing Tuition Assistance, and Reporting of Illegal Immigrants Bill Passed - House (63 - 24)
June 28, 2006 PA A7999 to HB 1959 English as Official Language Amendment Adopted - House (122 - 70)
May 31, 2006 SC H 4938 State Guard Emergency Air Wing Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15)
May 31, 2006 SC H 4938 State Guard Emergency Air Wing Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15)
April 19, 2006 TN SB 303 Driver's License Examination English Language Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
April 24, 2006 TX HB 3 Business Tax Revisions Bill Passed - House (80 - 68)
May 2, 2006 TX HB 3 Business Tax Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
April 19, 2006 VA Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
April 19, 2006 VA Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 70)
Feb. 2, 2006 VA Sub HB 262 College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (67 - 33)
Feb. 2, 2006 VA HB 1050 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (76 - 23)
Feb. 6, 2006 VA Sub SB 313 DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 14, 2006 VA Sub HB 1048 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/04 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21)
5/04 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21)
6/29 H Res 895 Intelligence and Law Enforcement Resolution Resolution Passed - House (227 - 183)
6/29 S 3569 U.S. -Oman Free Trade Agreement Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 34)
3/07 S 2271 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
9/29 HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19)
9/29 S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (250 - 170)
6/16 H Res 861 Global War on Terror Resolution Passed - House (256 - 153)
6/16 H Res 861 Global War on Terror Resolution Passed - House (256 - 153)
6/16 H Res 861 Global War on Terror Resolution Passed - House (256 - 153)
6/20 HR 5631 Defense Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (407 - 19)
6/20 HR 5631 Defense Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (407 - 19)
7/20 HR 5684 U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Bill Passed - House (221 - 205)
7/26 HR 5682 U.S.and India Nuclear Cooperation Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (359 - 68)
9/14 HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (283 - 138)
9/14 HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (283 - 138)
9/19 HR 5684 U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 32)
9/21 HR 6095 Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (277 - 140)
9/29 S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (250 - 170)
3/16 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - House (348 - 71)
9/27 HR 6166 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (253 - 168)
9/27 HR 6166 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (253 - 168)
9/29 HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
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)
6/06 HR 5441 Department of Homeland Security Appropriation Act, 2007 Bill Passed - House (389 - 9)
6/06 HR 5441 Department of Homeland Security Appropriation Act, 2007 Bill Passed - House (389 - 9)
6/09 HR 5522 Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act Bill Passed - House (373 - 34)
9/28 HR 5825 Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act Bill Passed - House (232 - 191)
3/16 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - House (348 - 71)
3/16 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - House (348 - 71)
4/13 LB 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
4/13 LB 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
2/01 HB 345 Photo ID for Voting Bill Passed - House (211 - 149)
4/13 HB 345 Photo ID for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
3/21 HCR 36 Apportioning U.S. House Seats Resolution Passed - House (71 - 23)
3/14 HCS HB 3119 Voter ID, Repealing Tuition Assistance, and Reporting of Illegal Immigrants Bill Passed - House (63 - 24)
6/28 A7999 to HB 1959 English as Official Language Amendment Adopted - House (122 - 70)
5/31 H 4938 State Guard Emergency Air Wing Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15)
5/31 H 4938 State Guard Emergency Air Wing Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15)
4/19 SB 303 Driver's License Examination English Language Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
4/24 HB 3 Business Tax Revisions Bill Passed - House (80 - 68)
5/02 HB 3 Business Tax Revisions Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
4/19 Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
4/19 Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 70)
2/02 Sub HB 262 College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (67 - 33)
2/02 HB 1050 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (76 - 23)
2/06 Sub SB 313 DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
2/14 Sub HB 1048 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)

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