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, 2011 TX HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
May 4, 2011 IL SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
April 21, 2011 AL SB 256 Undocumented Immigrant Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate
April 19, 2011 AZ SB 1406 Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
April 18, 2011 AZ SB 1495 Establishment of an Arizona State Guard Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
April 18, 2011 AZ SB 1406 Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence Bill Passed - House (40 - 19)
April 18, 2011 CO SB 126 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
April 14, 2011 GA HB 87 Immigration Enforcement Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 59)
April 14, 2011 GA HB 87 Immigration Enforcement Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19)
April 11, 2011 MD SB 167 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 65)
April 11, 2011 MD SB 167 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19)
April 11, 2011 AZ HB 2191 Punitive Damage Awards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 17)
April 9, 2011 National HR 1363 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (348 - 70)
April 7, 2011 National HR 1363 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations Bill Passed - House (247 - 181)
April 6, 2011 AZ HB 2191 Punitive Damage Awards Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
April 5, 2011 AL HB 56 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (73 - 28)
April 3, 2011 TX HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (98 - 49)
March 29, 2011 National HR 839 Terminating the Home Affordable Modification Program Bill Passed - House (252 - 170)
March 29, 2011 OR SB 742 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 22, 2011 CO HB 1140 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
March 17, 2011 AZ SB 1309 Defines Arizona Citizenship Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
March 17, 2011 AZ SB 1611 Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
March 17, 2011 AZ SB 1405 Hospital Admissions and Restrictions Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
March 17, 2011 AZ SB 1308 Separate Birth Certificates for Non-Citizens Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
March 17, 2011 National H Con Res 28 Removing Troops from Afghanistan Joint Resolution Failed - House (93 - 321)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/04 HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
5/04 SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
4/21 SB 256 Undocumented Immigrant Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate
4/19 SB 1406 Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
4/18 SB 1495 Establishment of an Arizona State Guard Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
4/18 SB 1406 Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence Bill Passed - House (40 - 19)
4/18 SB 126 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
4/14 HB 87 Immigration Enforcement Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 59)
4/14 HB 87 Immigration Enforcement Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19)
4/11 SB 167 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 65)
4/11 SB 167 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19)
4/11 HB 2191 Punitive Damage Awards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 17)
4/09 HR 1363 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (348 - 70)
4/07 HR 1363 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations Bill Passed - House (247 - 181)
4/06 HB 2191 Punitive Damage Awards Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
4/05 HB 56 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (73 - 28)
4/03 HB 1 2011-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (98 - 49)
3/29 HR 839 Terminating the Home Affordable Modification Program Bill Passed - House (252 - 170)
3/29 SB 742 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/22 HB 1140 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
3/17 SB 1309 Defines Arizona Citizenship Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
3/17 SB 1611 Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
3/17 SB 1405 Hospital Admissions and Restrictions Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
3/17 SB 1308 Separate Birth Certificates for Non-Citizens Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
3/17 H Con Res 28 Removing Troops from Afghanistan Joint Resolution Failed - House (93 - 321)

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