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 15, 1998 | National | HR 3682 | Child Custody Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
May 22, 1998 | National | HR 2400 | Transportation Reauthorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 5) |
May 22, 1998 | National | HR 2400 | Transportation Reauthorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (297 - 86) |
May 5, 1998 | National | HR 1385 | Training Programs bill | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 7) |
April 30, 1998 | National | S 1502 | Washington, D.C. School Vouchers bill | Bill Passed - House (214 - 206) |
April 29, 1998 | National | HR 3717 | Needle Exchange Funding Ban | Bill Passed - House (287 - 140) |
April 1, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2175 | School Modernization Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46) |
April 1, 1998 | National | HR 2400 | Transportation Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (337 - 80) |
March 4, 1998 | National | S Amdt 1682 | Blood Alcohol Content Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 32) |
March 4, 1998 | National | HR 856 | Puerto Rico Political Status bill | Bill Passed - House (209 - 208) |
Feb. 5, 1998 | National | HR 2846 | National Student Testing bill | Bill Passed - House (242 - 174) |
Oct. 9, 1997 | National | HR 2607 | District of Columbia FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (203 - 202) |
May 23, 1997 | National | S Amdt 357 | Violent Crime Victims Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
May 16, 1997 | National | HR 1385 | Training Programs bill | Bill Passed - House (343 - 60) |
Sept. 10, 1996 | National | HR 3396 | Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14) |
Aug. 2, 1996 | National | S 1316 | Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0) |
Aug. 2, 1996 | National | S 1316 | Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - House (392 - 30) |
July 22, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1309 | Non-Federally Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 223) |
July 12, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1286 | Definition of Marriage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311) |
July 12, 1996 | National | HR 3396 | Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) | Bill Passed - House (342 - 67) |
June 20, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1190 | Tribal Land Trust Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
June 6, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1133 | Wisconsin Welfare Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
June 6, 1996 | National | HR 3562 | Wisconsin Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (289 - 136) |
March 20, 1996 | National | H Amdt 969 | Denying Public Education to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (257 - 163) |
March 7, 1996 | National | H Amdt 946 | Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 222) |
Feb. 28, 1996 | National | H Amdt 935 | Dairy Program Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (258 - 164) |
Dec. 22, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
Dec. 21, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (245 - 178) |
Nov. 2, 1995 | National | HR 2546 | Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia | Bill Passed - House (224 - 191) |
Sept. 20, 1995 | National | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
Sept. 19, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
June 21, 1995 | National | S Amdt 1446 | Drinking and Driving Minors Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
May 16, 1995 | National | HR 961 | Comprehensive Wetlands Conservation and Management Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 185) |
March 24, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (234 - 199) |
Feb. 14, 1995 | National | HR 728 | Anti-Crime bill | Bill Passed - House (238 - 192) |
Sept. 21, 1994 | National | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (71 - 27) |
July 27, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2416 | Voluntary Prayer Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
July 21, 1994 | National | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32) |
July 14, 1994 | National | H Amdt 755 | Federal Land Appraisals | Amendment Adopted - House (281 - 148) |
July 13, 1994 | National | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (213 - 210) |
March 24, 1994 | National | H Amdt 497 | Funding and Programs Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (173 - 245) |
Nov. 21, 1993 | National | HR 51 | D.C. Statehood Bill | Bill Failed - House (153 - 277) |
Oct. 27, 1993 | National | HR 2492 | District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 201) |
July 27, 1993 | National | HR 2492 | District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 29) |
June 30, 1993 | National | H Amdt 188 | DC's Domestic Partners Ordinance | Amendment Adopted - House (253 - 167) |
June 30, 1993 | National | HR 2492 | District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (213 - 211) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
7/15 | HR 3682 | Child Custody Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
5/22 | HR 2400 | Transportation Reauthorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 5) |
5/22 | HR 2400 | Transportation Reauthorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (297 - 86) |
5/05 | HR 1385 | Training Programs bill | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 7) |
4/30 | S 1502 | Washington, D.C. School Vouchers bill | Bill Passed - House (214 - 206) |
4/29 | HR 3717 | Needle Exchange Funding Ban | Bill Passed - House (287 - 140) |
4/01 | S Amdt 2175 | School Modernization Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46) |
4/01 | HR 2400 | Transportation Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (337 - 80) |
3/04 | S Amdt 1682 | Blood Alcohol Content Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 32) |
3/04 | HR 856 | Puerto Rico Political Status bill | Bill Passed - House (209 - 208) |
2/05 | HR 2846 | National Student Testing bill | Bill Passed - House (242 - 174) |
10/09 | HR 2607 | District of Columbia FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (203 - 202) |
5/23 | S Amdt 357 | Violent Crime Victims Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
5/16 | HR 1385 | Training Programs bill | Bill Passed - House (343 - 60) |
9/10 | HR 3396 | Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14) |
8/02 | S 1316 | Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0) |
8/02 | S 1316 | Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - House (392 - 30) |
7/22 | H Amdt 1309 | Non-Federally Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 223) |
7/12 | H Amdt 1286 | Definition of Marriage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311) |
7/12 | HR 3396 | Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) | Bill Passed - House (342 - 67) |
6/20 | H Amdt 1190 | Tribal Land Trust Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
6/06 | H Amdt 1133 | Wisconsin Welfare Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
6/06 | HR 3562 | Wisconsin Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (289 - 136) |
3/20 | H Amdt 969 | Denying Public Education to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (257 - 163) |
3/07 | H Amdt 946 | Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 222) |
2/28 | H Amdt 935 | Dairy Program Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (258 - 164) |
12/22 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
12/21 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (245 - 178) |
11/02 | HR 2546 | Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia | Bill Passed - House (224 - 191) |
9/20 | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
9/19 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
6/21 | S Amdt 1446 | Drinking and Driving Minors Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
5/16 | HR 961 | Comprehensive Wetlands Conservation and Management Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 185) |
3/24 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (234 - 199) |
2/14 | HR 728 | Anti-Crime bill | Bill Passed - House (238 - 192) |
9/21 | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (71 - 27) |
7/27 | S Amdt 2416 | Voluntary Prayer Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
7/21 | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32) |
7/14 | H Amdt 755 | Federal Land Appraisals | Amendment Adopted - House (281 - 148) |
7/13 | HR 4649 | District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (213 - 210) |
3/24 | H Amdt 497 | Funding and Programs Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (173 - 245) |
11/21 | HR 51 | D.C. Statehood Bill | Bill Failed - House (153 - 277) |
10/27 | HR 2492 | District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 201) |
7/27 | HR 2492 | District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 29) |
6/30 | H Amdt 188 | DC's Domestic Partners Ordinance | Amendment Adopted - House (253 - 167) |
6/30 | HR 2492 | District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (213 - 211) |