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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 17, 2010 | National | HR 5510 | Aiding Those Facing Foreclosure Act | Bill Failed - House (210 - 145) |
Dec. 13, 2010 | NJ | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
Dec. 8, 2010 | National | S 3991 | Allowing Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 43) |
Dec. 1, 2010 | IL | SB 1716 | Authorizing Civil Unions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 24) |
Nov. 30, 2010 | IL | SB 1716 | Authorizing Civil Unions | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
Nov. 22, 2010 | NJ | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
Nov. 17, 2010 | National | HR 3808 | Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010 2 | Veto Override Failed - House (185 - 235) |
Nov. 17, 2010 | National | S 3772 | Paycheck Fairness Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 41) |
Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
Oct. 5, 2010 | PA | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
Oct. 5, 2010 | PA | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
Aug. 27, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
Aug. 27, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
Aug. 24, 2010 | CA | SB 399 | Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal a Sentence of Life Without Parole | Bill Failed - House (34 - 38) |
Aug. 24, 2010 | CA | SB 399 | Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal a Sentence of Life Without Parole | Bill Failed - House (34 - 38) |
July 30, 2010 | National | HR 5851 | "Whistleblower Protection" for Offshore Oil Workers | Bill Passed - House (315 - 93) |
July 28, 2010 | National | HR 5827 | Exempting Guns from an Estate for Bankruptcy Purposes | Bill Passed - House (307 - 113) |
July 21, 2010 | National | HR 725 | Tribal Law Enforcement Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (326 - 92) |
July 21, 2010 | National | HR 725 | Tribal Law Enforcement Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (326 - 92) |
July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
July 1, 2010 | NY | S 1523 | Allowing Unmarried Partners to Adopt a Child | Bill Passed - House (95 - 44) |
June 30, 2010 | PA | HB 2572 | Establishing the Special Juvenile Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - House (125 - 76) |
June 29, 2010 | NY | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 52) |
June 29, 2010 | NY | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 52) |
June 29, 2010 | PA | SR 348 | Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2105 | Delaying the Effective Date of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
June 24, 2010 | NY | S 1523 | Allowing Unmarried Partners to Adopt a Child | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21) |
June 21, 2010 | CT | HB 5207 | Criminal Background Checks for State Employees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
June 21, 2010 | CT | HB 5207 | Criminal Background Checks for State Employees | Veto Override Passed - House (120 - 19) |
June 21, 2010 | CT | HB 5248 | Establishing a Sentencing Commission | Veto Override Passed - House (130 - 9) |
June 21, 2010 | CT | HB 5248 | Establishing a Sentencing Commission | Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
June 20, 2010 | LA | SB 381 | Establishing "Crime Against Nature by Solicitation" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
June 18, 2010 | LA | SB 381 | Establishing "Crime Against Nature by Solicitation" | Bill Passed - House (80 - 10) |
June 17, 2010 | LA | HB 1272 | Authorizing Handguns in of Places of Worship | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 26) |
June 17, 2010 | MI | SJR V | Expanding Prohibitions Against Felons Holding Public Office | Joint Resolution Passed - House (91 - 13) |
June 15, 2010 | LA | HB 1272 | Authorizing Handguns in of Places of Worship | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
June 15, 2010 | NY | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18) |
June 15, 2010 | NY | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18) |
June 14, 2010 | LA | HB 195 | Inmate Parole Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
June 9, 2010 | TN | HB 670 | Requiring Correctional Facilities to Determine Immigration Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 30) |
June 9, 2010 | TN | HB 670 | Requiring Correctional Facilities to Determine Immigration Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 7) |
June 8, 2010 | PA | SB 1161 | Authorizing Qualified Inmate Transfer to Pre-Release Centers | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
June 4, 2010 | TN | SB 3012 | Guns in Bars | Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 30) |
June 3, 2010 | LA | SB 593 | Governor's Office Records | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 24) |
June 3, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
June 3, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
June 3, 2010 | CA | AB 1810 | Expanded Firearm Registration | Bill Passed - House (42 - 29) |
June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 1113 | Income Tax Appeal Modifications | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20) |
June 2, 2010 | LA | SB 9 | Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - House (69 - 22) |
June 2, 2010 | CA | SB 399 | Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal Life Without Parole Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
June 2, 2010 | CA | SB 399 | Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal Life Without Parole Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
June 2, 2010 | CA | SB 1399 | Expanding Medical Parole Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
June 1, 2010 | CA | SB 1168 | Grand Juries for Misdemeanors in the County of Los Angeles | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
June 1, 2010 | CA | SB 1168 | Grand Juries for Misdemeanors in the County of Los Angeles | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
June 1, 2010 | CA | AB 1934 | Amendments to the Penal Code Regarding Firearms | Bill Passed - House (46 - 30) |
May 27, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4214 | National Guard Deployment on Southern U.S. Land Border | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 46) |
May 27, 2010 | TN | SB 3012 | Guns in Bars | Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
May 27, 2010 | OH | SB 239 | Allowing Concealed Firearms in Establishments that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
May 26, 2010 | LA | SB 38 | Criminalization of Participation in Cockfighting | Bill Passed - House (73 - 13) |
May 26, 2010 | MA | H 4703 | Sentencing Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (139 - 17) |
May 26, 2010 | OH | HB 473 | Prohibits Inappropriate Pictures of Minors | Bill Passed - House (86 - 12) |
May 24, 2010 | OK | HJR 1056 | Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 2) |
May 21, 2010 | OK | HJR 1054 | Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates | Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 16) |
May 18, 2010 | OK | HJR 1054 | Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates | Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 24) |
May 18, 2010 | OK | HJR 1056 | Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 10) |
May 13, 2010 | CA | AB 1756 | Food Stamps for Drug Felons | Bill Passed - House (44 - 31) |
May 13, 2010 | LA | HB 554 | Prohibiting Release on Own Recognizance for Domestic Abuse Suspects | Bill Passed - House (63 - 20) |