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 23, 2007 National S Amdt 1169 Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1184 Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1202 Point Based Immigration Expiration Date Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1250 Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1316 Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1333 Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1384 English as the Common Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
July 26, 2007 National S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44)
July 26, 2007 National S Amdt 2480 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1)
Sept. 19, 2007 National S Amdt 2909 Time Between Troop Deployments Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 44)
Sept. 20, 2007 National S Amdt 2934 Expressing Support for General Petraeus and All Members of the Armed Forces Amendment Adopted - Senate (72 - 25)
Sept. 20, 2007 National S Amdt 2947 Expressing Support for All Men and Women in the U.S. Armed Forces Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 47)
Oct. 3, 2007 National S Amdt 3117 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (95 - 1)
Dec. 18, 2007 National S Amdt 3875 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 71)
March 27, 2007 National S Amdt 643 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50)
April 30, 2007 MN S Amendment Domestic Partner Visitation Rights Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 34)
May 15, 2007 NC SB 1006 Confidentiality of Competitive Health Care Information Act Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 5)
June 4, 2007 CA SB 1019 Access to Police Misconduct Investigations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
May 10, 2007 AZ SB 1032 Emergency Room Malpractice Bill Failed - House (26 - 29)
Jan. 29, 2007 AZ SB 1032 Emergency Room Malpractice Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
May 2, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
May 2, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
April 23, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
April 23, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
March 8, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 8, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 8, 2007 AZ SB 1152 REAL ID Implementation Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
March 5, 2007 NM SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
March 5, 2007 NM SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
March 11, 2007 NM SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - House (49 - 16)
March 11, 2007 NM SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - House (49 - 16)
Jan. 23, 2007 VA SB 1204 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
March 20, 2007 IL SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
Feb. 26, 2007 AZ SB 1302 Use of Force in Self-Defense Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
May 24, 2007 TN SB 1325 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
April 25, 2007 CT SB 1343 Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
May 2, 2007 CT SB 1343 Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Bill Passed - House (113 - 36)
March 20, 2007 GA SB 174 Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI SB 176 Compensation for Discharged Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
April 12, 2007 NH SB 176 Children's Lead Poisoning Level Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI SB 176 Compensation for Discharged Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
March 15, 2007 NH SB 18 Raising the Compulsory School Age Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
June 6, 2007 NH SB 18 Raising the Compulsory School Age Bill Passed - House (201 - 156)
July 12, 2007 CA SB 180 Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - House (46 - 33)
May 21, 2007 CA SB 180 Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
March 5, 2007 TN SB 201 English-Only Driver's License Exam Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
April 20, 2007 ND SB 2046 Teachers’ Retirement Fund Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 27)
March 2, 2007 SD SB 207 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (62 - 8)
Feb. 12, 2007 SD SB 207 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
Feb. 20, 2007 SD SB 208 Tanning Restrictions Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
Feb. 13, 2007 ND SB 2122 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 26)
March 23, 2007 ND SB 2181 Prenatal Care for Minors Bill Failed - House (46 - 46)
June 7, 2007 NH SB 223 Funeral Protest Ban Bill Passed - House (299 - 22)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 232 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 232 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 232 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16)
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 - House (59 - 50)
Oct. 31, 2007 MI SB 232 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 50)
Oct. 30, 2007 MI SB 233 2007-2008 State Judiciary Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (102 - 7)
March 8, 2007 MS SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2)
March 8, 2007 MS SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2)
Feb. 22, 2007 MS SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Bill Passed - House (97 - 16)
Feb. 22, 2007 MS SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Bill Passed - House (97 - 16)
Feb. 7, 2007 MS SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
Feb. 7, 2007 MS SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
March 9, 2007 ND SB 2417 Verifying Employee Work Status Bill Failed - House (18 - 70)
March 9, 2007 ND SB 2417 Verifying Employee Work Status Bill Failed - House (18 - 70)
July 16, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36)
July 16, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (141 - 62)
June 26, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
May 1, 2007 CO SB 25 Sexual Orientation Workplace Discrimination Bill Passed - House (44 - 18)
April 17, 2007 CO SB 25 Sexual Orientation Workplace Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 23, 2007 MT SB 300 Seat Belt Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Feb. 27, 2007 NM SB 322 Requiring Conference Committees to be Public Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21)
March 1, 2007 NM SB 324 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
Feb. 2, 2007 NM SB 324 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 7)
Feb. 12, 2007 IN SB 327 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
Feb. 12, 2007 IN SB 327 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
June 29, 2007 DE SB 36 State Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - House (26 - 10)
June 14, 2007 DE SB 36 State Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
March 27, 2007 KS SB 385 State Employee Pay Increase Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
June 11, 2007 OR SB 392 Mandatory School Age Bill Failed - House (22 - 33)
May 25, 2007 NV SB 409 HPV Vaccine and Prostate Cancer Screening Coverage Act Bill Passed - House (36 - 6)
April 19, 2007 NV SB 409 HPV Vaccine Coverage Act Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
April 24, 2007 NV SB 415 Undocumented Students and State Financial Aid Act Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 456 Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
March 29, 2007 IL SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
May 1, 2007 IL SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - House (73 - 42)
April 19, 2007 OK SB 507 Comprehensive tort reform-Provide Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/23 S Amdt 1169 Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24)
6/06 S Amdt 1184 Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51)
6/06 S Amdt 1202 Point Based Immigration Expiration Date Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55)
6/06 S Amdt 1250 Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39)
6/06 S Amdt 1316 Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
6/06 S Amdt 1333 Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32)
6/06 S Amdt 1384 English as the Common Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
7/26 S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44)
7/26 S Amdt 2480 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1)
9/19 S Amdt 2909 Time Between Troop Deployments Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 44)
9/20 S Amdt 2934 Expressing Support for General Petraeus and All Members of the Armed Forces Amendment Adopted - Senate (72 - 25)
9/20 S Amdt 2947 Expressing Support for All Men and Women in the U.S. Armed Forces Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 47)
10/03 S Amdt 3117 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (95 - 1)
12/18 S Amdt 3875 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 71)
3/27 S Amdt 643 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50)
4/30 S Amendment Domestic Partner Visitation Rights Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 34)
5/15 SB 1006 Confidentiality of Competitive Health Care Information Act Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 5)
6/04 SB 1019 Access to Police Misconduct Investigations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
5/10 SB 1032 Emergency Room Malpractice Bill Failed - House (26 - 29)
1/29 SB 1032 Emergency Room Malpractice Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
5/02 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
5/02 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
4/23 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
4/23 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
3/08 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/08 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/08 SB 1152 REAL ID Implementation Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
3/05 SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
3/05 SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
3/11 SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - House (49 - 16)
3/11 SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - House (49 - 16)
1/23 SB 1204 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
3/20 SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
2/26 SB 1302 Use of Force in Self-Defense Bill Passed - House (42 - 17)
5/24 SB 1325 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
4/25 SB 1343 Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
5/02 SB 1343 Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Bill Passed - House (113 - 36)
3/20 SB 174 Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
12/11 SB 176 Compensation for Discharged Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
4/12 SB 176 Children's Lead Poisoning Level Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
12/11 SB 176 Compensation for Discharged Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
3/15 SB 18 Raising the Compulsory School Age Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
6/06 SB 18 Raising the Compulsory School Age Bill Passed - House (201 - 156)
7/12 SB 180 Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - House (46 - 33)
5/21 SB 180 Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
3/05 SB 201 English-Only Driver's License Exam Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
4/20 SB 2046 Teachers’ Retirement Fund Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 27)
3/02 SB 207 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (62 - 8)
2/12 SB 207 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
2/20 SB 208 Tanning Restrictions Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
2/13 SB 2122 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 26)
3/23 SB 2181 Prenatal Care for Minors Bill Failed - House (46 - 46)
6/07 SB 223 Funeral Protest Ban Bill Passed - House (299 - 22)
10/31 SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
10/31 SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
10/31 SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
10/31 SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25)
10/31 SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25)
10/31 SB 229 2007-2008 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25)
10/31 SB 232 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16)
10/31 SB 232 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16)
10/31 SB 232 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16)
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 - House (59 - 50)
10/31 SB 232 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 50)
10/30 SB 233 2007-2008 State Judiciary Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (102 - 7)
3/08 SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2)
3/08 SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2)
2/22 SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Bill Passed - House (97 - 16)
2/22 SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Bill Passed - House (97 - 16)
2/07 SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
2/07 SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
3/09 SB 2417 Verifying Employee Work Status Bill Failed - House (18 - 70)
3/09 SB 2417 Verifying Employee Work Status Bill Failed - House (18 - 70)
7/16 SB 246 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36)
7/16 SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (141 - 62)
6/26 SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
5/01 SB 25 Sexual Orientation Workplace Discrimination Bill Passed - House (44 - 18)
4/17 SB 25 Sexual Orientation Workplace Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/23 SB 300 Seat Belt Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
6/07 SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/07 SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
2/27 SB 322 Requiring Conference Committees to be Public Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21)
3/01 SB 324 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
2/02 SB 324 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 7)
2/12 SB 327 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
2/12 SB 327 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
6/29 SB 36 State Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - House (26 - 10)
6/14 SB 36 State Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
3/27 SB 385 State Employee Pay Increase Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
6/11 SB 392 Mandatory School Age Bill Failed - House (22 - 33)
5/25 SB 409 HPV Vaccine and Prostate Cancer Screening Coverage Act Bill Passed - House (36 - 6)
4/19 SB 409 HPV Vaccine Coverage Act Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
4/24 SB 415 Undocumented Students and State Financial Aid Act Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
6/07 SB 456 Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
6/07 SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
6/07 SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
3/29 SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
5/01 SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - House (73 - 42)
4/19 SB 507 Comprehensive tort reform-Provide Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 23)

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