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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 18, 2008 | National | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
June 18, 2008 | National | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - Senate (80 - 14) |
Nov. 15, 2007 | National | HR 3043 | Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Veto Override Failed - House (277 - 141) |
April 30, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
Jan. 4, 1996 | National | HR 1977 | 1996 Interior Appropriations | Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177) |
July 15, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - House (383 - 41) |
July 15, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26) |
May 22, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - Senate (82 - 13) |
Nov. 15, 2007 | National | HR 3043 | Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Veto Override Failed - House (277 - 141) |
May 21, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
Jan. 23, 2008 | National | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152) |
Jan. 26, 2009 | National | PN 64-6 | Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 34) |
July 25, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2396 | Prohibition of Funds to National Endowments for the Arts for Certain Projects | Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 42) |
July 14, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2245 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 42) |
May 22, 1997 | National | S Amdt 301 | Budget Deficit Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 47) |
March 23, 1995 | National | S Amdt 350 | Pay-As-You-Go Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 48) |
July 9, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30) |
July 26, 2008 | National | S 3186 | Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 35) |
March 25, 1999 | National | S Amdt 178 | Agricultural Appropriations Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 45) |
Sept. 20, 1995 | National | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
July 25, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1360 | Renewable Energy Research Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135) |
June 22, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3598 | Outpatient Prescription Drugs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
July 25, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1359 | Energy Research Appropriation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 211) |
June 20, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1183 | Forest Service Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (211 - 211) |
July 13, 2000 | National | H Amdt 983 | HIV/AIDS Funding amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (267 - 156) |
July 13, 2000 | National | H Amdt 997 | Family Planning Assistance Funding amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 221) |
July 19, 2005 | National | H Amdt 464 | Obstetric Fistula Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 205) |
July 11, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1278 | Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 220) |
July 18, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1307 | Food Stamp Recipient Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 184) |
March 24, 1999 | National | H Amdt 35 | Rescissions Removal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 228) |
March 12, 1998 | National | S Amdt 1676 | Intermodal Transportation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (96 - 4) |
July 24, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1356 | Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 236) |
Nov. 22, 1993 | National | H Amdt 416 | Penny Amendment to the Government Reform and Savings Act of 1993 | Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219) |
March 11, 1994 | National | H Amdt 466 | Budget Resolution Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 243) |
Feb. 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
March 16, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3103 | Natural Resources and Environment Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49) |
April 1, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2209 | Personal Retirement Accounts Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
July 19, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1241 | US Agency for International Development Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
July 19, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1241 | US Agency for International Development Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
May 24, 2007 | National | H Amdt 1 | Departmental Appropriations for Defense, Security, and Hurricane Recovery | Amendment Adopted - House (348 - 73) |
July 25, 2001 | National | H Amdt 241 | Substitute Amendment to Treasury Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2002 | Amendment Adopted - House (240 - 186) |
May 24, 2007 | National | H Amdt 2 | Replacing Titles I and II of House Amdt 1 to HR 2206 | Amendment Adopted - House (280 - 142) |
July 16, 1998 | National | H Amdt 723 | Increase FEC Funding | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 210) |
Sept. 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2707 | Prohibiting U.S. Assistance for Groups that Support Coercive Abortion | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
May 11, 2004 | National | S Amdt 3114 | Unemployment Benefits Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (59 - 40) |
July 1, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2142 | B-2 Bomber Funding | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
April 1, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2169 | Medicare Choices Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47) |
June 29, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3689 | Social Security and Medicare Surplus Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 43) |
July 19, 1994 | National | H Amdt 759 | Intelligence Spending Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 221) |
March 16, 2006 | National | S Amdt 3071 | Education Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
6/18 | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
6/18 | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - Senate (80 - 14) |
11/15 | HR 3043 | Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Veto Override Failed - House (277 - 141) |
4/30 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
1/04 | HR 1977 | 1996 Interior Appropriations | Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177) |
7/15 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - House (383 - 41) |
7/15 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26) |
5/22 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - Senate (82 - 13) |
11/15 | HR 3043 | Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Veto Override Failed - House (277 - 141) |
5/21 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (316 - 108) |
1/23 | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152) |
1/26 | PN 64-6 | Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 34) |
7/25 | S Amdt 2396 | Prohibition of Funds to National Endowments for the Arts for Certain Projects | Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 42) |
7/14 | S Amdt 2245 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 42) |
5/22 | S Amdt 301 | Budget Deficit Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 47) |
3/23 | S Amdt 350 | Pay-As-You-Go Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (49 - 48) |
7/09 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30) |
7/26 | S 3186 | Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 35) |
3/25 | S Amdt 178 | Agricultural Appropriations Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 45) |
9/20 | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
7/25 | H Amdt 1360 | Renewable Energy Research Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135) |
6/22 | S Amdt 3598 | Outpatient Prescription Drugs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
7/25 | H Amdt 1359 | Energy Research Appropriation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 211) |
6/20 | H Amdt 1183 | Forest Service Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (211 - 211) |
7/13 | H Amdt 983 | HIV/AIDS Funding amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (267 - 156) |
7/13 | H Amdt 997 | Family Planning Assistance Funding amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 221) |
7/19 | H Amdt 464 | Obstetric Fistula Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 205) |
7/11 | H Amdt 1278 | Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 220) |
7/18 | H Amdt 1307 | Food Stamp Recipient Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 184) |
3/24 | H Amdt 35 | Rescissions Removal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 228) |
3/12 | S Amdt 1676 | Intermodal Transportation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (96 - 4) |
7/24 | H Amdt 1356 | Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 236) |
11/22 | H Amdt 416 | Penny Amendment to the Government Reform and Savings Act of 1993 | Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219) |
3/11 | H Amdt 466 | Budget Resolution Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 243) |
2/02 | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
3/16 | S Amdt 3103 | Natural Resources and Environment Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49) |
4/01 | S Amdt 2209 | Personal Retirement Accounts Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
7/19 | S Amdt 1241 | US Agency for International Development Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
7/19 | S Amdt 1241 | US Agency for International Development Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
5/24 | H Amdt 1 | Departmental Appropriations for Defense, Security, and Hurricane Recovery | Amendment Adopted - House (348 - 73) |
7/25 | H Amdt 241 | Substitute Amendment to Treasury Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2002 | Amendment Adopted - House (240 - 186) |
5/24 | H Amdt 2 | Replacing Titles I and II of House Amdt 1 to HR 2206 | Amendment Adopted - House (280 - 142) |
7/16 | H Amdt 723 | Increase FEC Funding | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 210) |
9/06 | S Amdt 2707 | Prohibiting U.S. Assistance for Groups that Support Coercive Abortion | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
5/11 | S Amdt 3114 | Unemployment Benefits Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (59 - 40) |
7/01 | S Amdt 2142 | B-2 Bomber Funding | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
4/01 | S Amdt 2169 | Medicare Choices Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47) |
6/29 | S Amdt 3689 | Social Security and Medicare Surplus Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 43) |
7/19 | H Amdt 759 | Intelligence Spending Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 221) |
3/16 | S Amdt 3071 | Education Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51) |