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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 31, 2007 | National | S 1 | Lobbying and Donation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (411 - 8) |
April 19, 2007 | National | HR 1905 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 177) |
Sept. 26, 2006 | National | N/A | Motion to Resolve Into Secret Session | Motion Rejected - House (171 - 217) |
June 7, 2006 | National | HR 5521 | Legislative Branch FY 2007 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (361 - 53) |
May 3, 2006 | National | HR 4975 | 527 Reform Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 213) |
March 30, 2006 | National | H Res 746 | Jack Abramoff Investigation Resolution | Resolution Tabled - House (216 - 193) |
Oct. 18, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2062 | Congressional Pay Raise Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (92 - 6) |
Sept. 15, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1678 | Hurricane Katrina Relief Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (43 - 52) |
Sept. 15, 2005 | National | H Res 437 | Bipartisan Committee to Investigate Hurricane Katrina | Resolution Passed - House (224 - 188) |
Sept. 14, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1670 | Special Committee on Contracts in Afghanistan and Iraq | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
July 29, 2005 | National | HR 2985 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 4) |
July 28, 2005 | National | HR 2985 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (305 - 122) |
June 22, 2005 | National | HR 2985 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - House (330 - 82) |
Sept. 21, 2004 | National | HR 4755 | Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
July 12, 2004 | National | HR 4755 | Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (327 - 43) |
June 2, 2004 | National | H J Res 83 | Special Elections/Appointments Provisions Bill | Joint Resolution Failed - House (63 - 353) |
April 22, 2004 | National | HR 2844 | Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 97) |
Oct. 23, 2003 | National | S Amdt 1904 | Congressional Pay Raise Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (60 - 34) |
Sept. 24, 2003 | National | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (371 - 56) |
July 11, 2003 | National | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7) |
July 9, 2003 | National | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Bill Passed - House (394 - 26) |
July 25, 2002 | National | HR 5121 | Legislative Branch Appropriation, FY2003 | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14) |
July 24, 2002 | National | H Res 495 | Expulsion of Representative James A. Traficant, Jr., D-Ohio | Resolution Passed - House (420 - 1) |
July 18, 2002 | National | HR 5121 | Legislative Branch Appropriation, FY2003 | Bill Passed - House (365 - 49) |
Nov. 1, 2001 | National | HR 2647 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 52) |
Aug. 5, 1999 | National | HR 1905 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2000 | Conference Report Adopted - House (367 - 49) |
June 16, 1999 | National | HR 1905 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2000 | Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 4) |
June 10, 1999 | National | HR 1905 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2000 | Bill Passed - House (214 - 197) |
Sept. 24, 1998 | National | HR 4112 | Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
July 21, 1998 | National | HR 4112 | Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9) |
June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
June 25, 1998 | National | HR 4112 | Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (235 - 179) |
April 22, 1998 | National | H J Res 111 | Tax Limitation Amendment | Joint Resolution Failed - House (238 - 186) |
Nov. 13, 1997 | National | H Res 301 | Broadcast of Committee Witness bill | Resolution Passed - House (241 - 165) |
Sept. 24, 1997 | National | HR 2209 | FY 1998 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (309 - 106) |
Sept. 18, 1997 | National | H Res 168 | House Ethics Reform Task Force | Resolution Passed - House (258 - 154) |
July 28, 1997 | National | HR 2209 | FY 1998 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (214 - 203) |
Feb. 12, 1997 | National | H J Res 2 | Term Limits Resolution | Joint Resolution Failed - House (217 - 211) |
Jan. 21, 1997 | National | H Res 31 | Ethics Report on Newt Gingrich | Resolution Passed - House (395 - 28) |
June 27, 1996 | National | H Res 468 | Investigation of Speaker Newt Gingrich | Resolution Tabled - House (229 - 170) |
April 23, 1996 | National | S J Res 21 | Term Limits bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42) |
Nov. 29, 1995 | National | HR 2564 | Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (421 - 0) |
Nov. 28, 1995 | National | H Amdt 903 | Prohibit Federal Funds for Lobbying Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 238) |
Oct. 31, 1995 | National | HR 2492 | Appropriations Bill FY96, Legislative Branch | Bill Passed - House (315 - 106) |
March 29, 1995 | National | H J Res 73 | Term Limits bill | Joint Resolution Failed - House (227 - 204) |
Jan. 5, 1995 | National | S Amdt 1 | Filibuster Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (76 - 19) |
July 1, 1994 | National | HR 4454 | Legislative Branch FY95 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 27) |
May 26, 1994 | National | HR 4454 | Legislative Branch FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (210 - 205) |
July 23, 1993 | National | HR 2348 | Legislative Branch FY94 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7) |
June 10, 1993 | National | HR 2348 | Legislative Branch FY94 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (224 - 187) |
April 29, 1992 | National | H Res 441 | House Bank Records - Comply with Subpoena | Resolution Passed - House (347 - 64) |
April 9, 1992 | National | H Res 423 | House Administrative Reforms | Resolution Passed - House (269 - 81) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
7/31 | S 1 | Lobbying and Donation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (411 - 8) |
4/19 | HR 1905 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 177) |
9/26 | N/A | Motion to Resolve Into Secret Session | Motion Rejected - House (171 - 217) |
6/07 | HR 5521 | Legislative Branch FY 2007 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (361 - 53) |
5/03 | HR 4975 | 527 Reform Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 213) |
3/30 | H Res 746 | Jack Abramoff Investigation Resolution | Resolution Tabled - House (216 - 193) |
10/18 | S Amdt 2062 | Congressional Pay Raise Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (92 - 6) |
9/15 | S Amdt 1678 | Hurricane Katrina Relief Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (43 - 52) |
9/15 | H Res 437 | Bipartisan Committee to Investigate Hurricane Katrina | Resolution Passed - House (224 - 188) |
9/14 | S Amdt 1670 | Special Committee on Contracts in Afghanistan and Iraq | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
7/29 | HR 2985 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 4) |
7/28 | HR 2985 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (305 - 122) |
6/22 | HR 2985 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 | Bill Passed - House (330 - 82) |
9/21 | HR 4755 | Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
7/12 | HR 4755 | Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (327 - 43) |
6/02 | H J Res 83 | Special Elections/Appointments Provisions Bill | Joint Resolution Failed - House (63 - 353) |
4/22 | HR 2844 | Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 97) |
10/23 | S Amdt 1904 | Congressional Pay Raise Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (60 - 34) |
9/24 | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (371 - 56) |
7/11 | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7) |
7/09 | HR 2657 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill | Bill Passed - House (394 - 26) |
7/25 | HR 5121 | Legislative Branch Appropriation, FY2003 | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14) |
7/24 | H Res 495 | Expulsion of Representative James A. Traficant, Jr., D-Ohio | Resolution Passed - House (420 - 1) |
7/18 | HR 5121 | Legislative Branch Appropriation, FY2003 | Bill Passed - House (365 - 49) |
11/01 | HR 2647 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 52) |
8/05 | HR 1905 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2000 | Conference Report Adopted - House (367 - 49) |
6/16 | HR 1905 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2000 | Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 4) |
6/10 | HR 1905 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2000 | Bill Passed - House (214 - 197) |
9/24 | HR 4112 | Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
7/21 | HR 4112 | Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9) |
6/25 | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
6/25 | HR 4112 | Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (235 - 179) |
4/22 | H J Res 111 | Tax Limitation Amendment | Joint Resolution Failed - House (238 - 186) |
11/13 | H Res 301 | Broadcast of Committee Witness bill | Resolution Passed - House (241 - 165) |
9/24 | HR 2209 | FY 1998 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (309 - 106) |
9/18 | H Res 168 | House Ethics Reform Task Force | Resolution Passed - House (258 - 154) |
7/28 | HR 2209 | FY 1998 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (214 - 203) |
2/12 | H J Res 2 | Term Limits Resolution | Joint Resolution Failed - House (217 - 211) |
1/21 | H Res 31 | Ethics Report on Newt Gingrich | Resolution Passed - House (395 - 28) |
6/27 | H Res 468 | Investigation of Speaker Newt Gingrich | Resolution Tabled - House (229 - 170) |
4/23 | S J Res 21 | Term Limits bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42) |
11/29 | HR 2564 | Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (421 - 0) |
11/28 | H Amdt 903 | Prohibit Federal Funds for Lobbying Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 238) |
10/31 | HR 2492 | Appropriations Bill FY96, Legislative Branch | Bill Passed - House (315 - 106) |
3/29 | H J Res 73 | Term Limits bill | Joint Resolution Failed - House (227 - 204) |
1/05 | S Amdt 1 | Filibuster Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (76 - 19) |
7/01 | HR 4454 | Legislative Branch FY95 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 27) |
5/26 | HR 4454 | Legislative Branch FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (210 - 205) |
7/23 | HR 2348 | Legislative Branch FY94 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7) |
6/10 | HR 2348 | Legislative Branch FY94 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (224 - 187) |
4/29 | H Res 441 | House Bank Records - Comply with Subpoena | Resolution Passed - House (347 - 64) |
4/09 | H Res 423 | House Administrative Reforms | Resolution Passed - House (269 - 81) |