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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Sept. 29, 2006 National S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (250 - 170)
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 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Sept. 20, 2006 National HR 4844 Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (228 - 196)
July 19, 2006 National HR 2389 Pledge Protection Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (260 - 167)
July 18, 2006 National H J Res 88 Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (236 - 187)
July 13, 2006 MA H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
July 13, 2006 National HR 9 Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (390 - 33)
June 28, 2006 NH SB 318 Use of Deadly Force Veto Override Failed - Senate (11 - 11)
June 27, 2006 National S J Res 12 Flag Desecration Constitutional Amendment Resolution Failed - Senate (66 - 34)
June 21, 2006 PA HB 2381 Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
June 21, 2006 NY S 8446 DNA Database Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2)
June 7, 2006 National S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
June 6, 2006 MI HB 5143 "Self-Defense Act" Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
June 6, 2006 PA HB 2381 Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (136 - 61)
May 30, 2006 MI HB 6085 Disclosure of Citizenship on Driver's License Bill Passed - House (76 - 27)
May 26, 2006 OK SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 5)
May 25, 2006 SC Amdt 3 to S 1084 Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31)
May 25, 2006 OH Sub HB 184 U.S. and Ohio Mottos in Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 13)
May 24, 2006 NH HB 656 "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (168 - 165)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
May 23, 2006 LA SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
May 17, 2006 LA HB 853 Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government Bill Failed - House (38 - 58)
May 11, 2006 TN SB 1678 Establishing Voting Rights Guidelines for Convicted Felons Bill Passed - House (57 - 40)
May 10, 2006 KS HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 24)
May 10, 2006 KS HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9)
May 9, 2006 RI H 7339 Restriction on Political Surveillance Bill Passed - House (36 - 25)
May 8, 2006 CO HB 1314 Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employer’s Religious or Political Speech Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16)
May 5, 2006 VT H 865 Non-Discrimination Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 47)
May 4, 2006 LA HB 1010 Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban Bill Passed - House (67 - 31)
May 4, 2006 CO SB 81 Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill Bill Passed - House (39 - 26)
May 4, 2006 CO HB 1344 Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
May 3, 2006 OK HCS SB 806 Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
May 3, 2006 RI S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
May 3, 2006 CO HB 1125 Seat Belt Enforcement Bill Bill Failed - House (32 - 32)
May 2, 2006 HI SB 3262 Smoking Ban Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 3)
May 2, 2006 HI SB 3262 Smoking Ban Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3)
May 1, 2006 TN HA 1232 Sexual Orientation Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 32)
April 27, 2006 CT Sub SB 4 Birth Information for Adult Adoptees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
April 27, 2006 CA SCR 113 The Great American Boycott 2006 Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
April 26, 2006 NH SB 318 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - House (193 - 134)
April 25, 2006 MI Sub H-1 Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill Bill Passed - House (90 - 16)
April 24, 2006 CT Sub SB 4 Birth Information for Adult Adoptees Bill Passed - House (79 - 64)
April 20, 2006 CO SB 81 Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
April 20, 2006 MN SF 1070 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20)
April 19, 2006 VA HB 493 High School Baccalaureate Ceremonies Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36)
April 17, 2006 CT HB 5212 News Media Information Protection Bill Passed - House (107 - 34)
April 17, 2006 AZ HB 2696 Adoption Preference for Married Couples Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13)
April 17, 2006 OK HCS SB 806 Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations Bill Passed - House (70 - 28)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/29 S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (250 - 170)
9/28 S Amdt 5095 Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
9/28 S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
9/28 S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
9/20 HR 4844 Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (228 - 196)
7/19 HR 2389 Pledge Protection Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (260 - 167)
7/18 H J Res 88 Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (236 - 187)
7/13 H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
7/13 HR 9 Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (390 - 33)
6/28 SB 318 Use of Deadly Force Veto Override Failed - Senate (11 - 11)
6/27 S J Res 12 Flag Desecration Constitutional Amendment Resolution Failed - Senate (66 - 34)
6/21 HB 2381 Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
6/21 S 8446 DNA Database Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2)
6/07 S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
6/06 HB 5143 "Self-Defense Act" Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
6/06 HB 2381 Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (136 - 61)
5/30 HB 6085 Disclosure of Citizenship on Driver's License Bill Passed - House (76 - 27)
5/26 SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 5)
5/25 Amdt 3 to S 1084 Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31)
5/25 Sub HB 184 U.S. and Ohio Mottos in Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 13)
5/24 HB 656 "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (168 - 165)
5/24 SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
5/23 SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
5/17 HB 853 Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government Bill Failed - House (38 - 58)
5/11 SB 1678 Establishing Voting Rights Guidelines for Convicted Felons Bill Passed - House (57 - 40)
5/10 HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 24)
5/10 HB 2118 Conceal and Carry Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9)
5/09 H 7339 Restriction on Political Surveillance Bill Passed - House (36 - 25)
5/08 HB 1314 Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employer’s Religious or Political Speech Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16)
5/05 H 865 Non-Discrimination Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 47)
5/04 HB 1010 Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban Bill Passed - House (67 - 31)
5/04 SB 81 Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill Bill Passed - House (39 - 26)
5/04 HB 1344 Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/03 HCS SB 806 Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
5/03 S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/03 HB 1125 Seat Belt Enforcement Bill Bill Failed - House (32 - 32)
5/02 SB 3262 Smoking Ban Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 3)
5/02 SB 3262 Smoking Ban Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3)
5/01 HA 1232 Sexual Orientation Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 32)
4/27 Sub SB 4 Birth Information for Adult Adoptees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
4/27 SCR 113 The Great American Boycott 2006 Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
4/26 SB 318 Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - House (193 - 134)
4/25 Sub H-1 Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill Bill Passed - House (90 - 16)
4/24 Sub SB 4 Birth Information for Adult Adoptees Bill Passed - House (79 - 64)
4/20 SB 81 Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
4/20 SF 1070 Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20)
4/19 HB 493 High School Baccalaureate Ceremonies Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36)
4/17 HB 5212 News Media Information Protection Bill Passed - House (107 - 34)
4/17 HB 2696 Adoption Preference for Married Couples Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13)
4/17 HCS SB 806 Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations Bill Passed - House (70 - 28)

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