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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
April 27, 2007 | KS | HB 2528 | Concealed Firearms | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
Oct. 3, 2007 | IL | SB 1463 | Silent Reflection and Student Prayer | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Nov. 8, 2007 | National | PN 958 | Michael B. Mukasey, Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 40) |
July 26, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2405 | REAL ID Funding | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44) |
May 30, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. P-2B | State Scholarships for Private Schools | Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15) |
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 1151 | Declaring English the National Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33) |
Oct. 3, 2007 | National | S Amdt 3117 | Border Fence and Customs Appropriations | Amendment Adopted - Senate (95 - 1) |
June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
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 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
Sept. 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2707 | Prohibiting U.S. Assistance for Groups that Support Coercive Abortion | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
July 26, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2480 | Border Fence and Customs Appropriations | Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1) |
July 19, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2351 | Sense of the Senate on Guantanamo Bay Detainees | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3) |
June 25, 2007 | PA | A 2062 | Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
May 23, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1169 | Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24) |
June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1384 | English as the Common Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39) |
Oct. 29, 2007 | MI | SB 238 | 2007-2008 Department of State Police Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2) |
April 23, 2007 | ND | HB 1466 | Abortion Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 16) |
June 20, 2007 | AZ | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4) |
Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16) |
April 29, 2007 | IN | HB 1835 | Slot Machines at Race Tracks | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 17) |
Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16) |
April 29, 2007 | IN | HB 1510 | Charity Gambling and Illegal Gambling Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
May 11, 2007 | MN | SF 238 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 21) |
Oct. 29, 2007 | MI | SB 231 | 2007-2008 Department of Art, History, and Library Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2) |
Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4348 | 2007-2008 Department of Corrections Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
May 7, 2007 | MN | SF 2171 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 19) |
Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
April 25, 2007 | IA | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
April 25, 2007 | IA | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
June 15, 2007 | ME | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
June 18, 2007 | OR | SB 571 | Smoking Ban Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
June 18, 2007 | OR | SB 863 | Regulating Automated Phone Calls | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
May 2, 2007 | AZ | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
March 28, 2007 | KS | SB 66 | Kansas Expanded Lottery Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
April 19, 2007 | OK | SB 507 | Comprehensive tort reform-Provide | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
Sept. 27, 2007 | National | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (67 - 29) |
Feb. 28, 2007 | UT | 2SSB 251 | Concealed Firearms on College Campuses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
March 8, 2007 | MS | SB 2391 | Abortion Law Reform | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2) |
Feb. 13, 2007 | IA | SF 61 | Harassment In Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
Aug. 30, 2007 | CA | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
June 14, 2007 | DE | HB 175 | Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
March 20, 2007 | KS | HB 2140 | English as the Official Language | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
Oct. 16, 2007 | National | HR 3093 | Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
4/04 | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
4/27 | HB 2528 | Concealed Firearms | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
10/03 | SB 1463 | Silent Reflection and Student Prayer | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9) |
4/04 | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
11/08 | PN 958 | Michael B. Mukasey, Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 40) |
7/26 | S Amdt 2405 | REAL ID Funding | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44) |
5/30 | Amendment No. P-2B | State Scholarships for Private Schools | Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15) |
6/06 | S Amdt 1316 | Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48) |
6/06 | S Amdt 1151 | Declaring English the National Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33) |
10/03 | S Amdt 3117 | Border Fence and Customs Appropriations | Amendment Adopted - Senate (95 - 1) |
6/06 | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
6/06 | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
6/06 | S Amdt 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
6/06 | S Amdt 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
9/06 | S Amdt 2707 | Prohibiting U.S. Assistance for Groups that Support Coercive Abortion | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
7/26 | S Amdt 2480 | Border Fence and Customs Appropriations | Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1) |
7/19 | S Amdt 2351 | Sense of the Senate on Guantanamo Bay Detainees | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3) |
6/25 | A 2062 | Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
5/23 | S Amdt 1169 | Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24) |
6/06 | S Amdt 1384 | English as the Common Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39) |
10/29 | SB 238 | 2007-2008 Department of State Police Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2) |
4/23 | HB 1466 | Abortion Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 16) |
6/20 | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4) |
10/31 | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16) |
4/29 | HB 1835 | Slot Machines at Race Tracks | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 17) |
10/31 | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16) |
4/29 | HB 1510 | Charity Gambling and Illegal Gambling Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
10/31 | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
5/11 | SF 238 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 21) |
10/29 | SB 231 | 2007-2008 Department of Art, History, and Library Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 2) |
10/30 | S Sub for Sub HB 4348 | 2007-2008 Department of Corrections Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
5/07 | SF 2171 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 19) |
10/30 | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
10/30 | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
4/25 | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
4/25 | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
6/15 | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
6/18 | SB 571 | Smoking Ban Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
6/18 | SB 863 | Regulating Automated Phone Calls | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
5/02 | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
3/28 | SB 66 | Kansas Expanded Lottery Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
4/19 | SB 507 | Comprehensive tort reform-Provide | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
9/27 | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (67 - 29) |
2/28 | 2SSB 251 | Concealed Firearms on College Campuses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
3/08 | SB 2391 | Abortion Law Reform | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2) |
2/13 | SF 61 | Harassment In Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
8/30 | SB 33 | Underage Driver Cellphone Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
6/14 | HB 175 | Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
3/20 | HB 2140 | English as the Official Language | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
10/16 | HR 3093 | Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19) |