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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 25, 1998 | National | H Amdt 497 | Death Sentence Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 300) |
May 20, 1998 | National | H Amdt 643 | Abortion Private Funding Restoration Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 232) |
July 20, 1998 | National | H Amdt 744 | Labor Political Activity Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (150 - 248) |
Aug. 7, 1998 | National | H Amdt 871 | Adoption Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192) |
Aug. 6, 1998 | National | H Amdt 874 | Low Income Educational Scholarship Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 208) |
Aug. 6, 1998 | National | H Amdt 874 | Low Income Educational Scholarship Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 208) |
Sept. 25, 1998 | National | H Amdt 914 | Save Social Security Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 216) |
Oct. 8, 1998 | National | H Amdt 923 | Contraceptive Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200) |
March 18, 1998 | National | H Con Res 227 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U.S. Troop Removal Resolution | Resolution Failed - House (193 - 225) |
April 22, 1998 | National | H J Res 111 | Tax Limitation Amendment | Joint Resolution Failed - House (238 - 186) |
Oct. 5, 1998 | National | HR 1154 | Indian Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures | Bill Failed - House (190 - 208) |
May 5, 1998 | National | HR 1385 | Training Programs bill | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 7) |
Sept. 25, 1998 | National | HR 2621 | Reciprocal Trade Agreement Bill | Bill Failed - House (180 - 243) |
Feb. 25, 1998 | National | HR 2631 | Line Item Veto Cancellation bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
Feb. 5, 1998 | National | HR 2631 | Line Item Veto Cancellation bill | Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69) |
June 18, 1998 | National | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 197) |
June 24, 1998 | National | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 36) |
April 23, 1998 | National | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
March 26, 1998 | National | HR 3246 | Small Business and Employee Fairness bill | Bill Passed - House (202 - 200) |
March 30, 1998 | National | HR 3581 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Bill Failed - House (74 - 337) |
Oct. 1, 1998 | National | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
Sept. 24, 1998 | National | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (373 - 50) |
May 21, 1998 | National | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (357 - 60) |
July 15, 1998 | National | HR 3682 | Child Custody Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
Sept. 24, 1998 | National | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
June 22, 1998 | National | HR 4059 | Military Construction FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (396 - 10) |
Sept. 29, 1998 | National | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 2) |
Sept. 28, 1998 | National | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (369 - 43) |
June 24, 1998 | National | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (358 - 61) |
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 | HR 4112 | Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (235 - 179) |
July 23, 1998 | National | HR 4193 | Interior Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (245 - 181) |
Oct. 8, 1998 | National | HR 4194 | FY 1999 VA-HUD Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 1) |
Oct. 6, 1998 | National | HR 4194 | FY 1999 VA-HUD Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (409 - 14) |
July 29, 1998 | National | HR 4194 | Appropriations bill FY99, Veterans Affairs, HUD | Bill Passed - House (259 - 164) |
Sept. 25, 1998 | National | HR 4578 | Social Security Account Protection bill | Bill Passed - House (240 - 188) |
Dec. 19, 1998 | National | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - House (148 - 285) |
Dec. 19, 1998 | National | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Passed - House (228 - 206) |
Dec. 19, 1998 | National | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Passed - House (221 - 212) |
Dec. 19, 1998 | National | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - House (205 - 229) |
Feb. 10, 1998 | National | PN 623 | David Satcher, Surgeon General of the Public Health Service | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 35) |
April 30, 1998 | National | S 1502 | Washington, D.C. School Vouchers bill | Bill Passed - House (214 - 206) |
May 18, 1998 | National | S 1723 | Non-Immigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
April 1, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2169 | Medicare Choices Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47) |
April 1, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2209 | Personal Retirement Accounts Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
May 18, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2417 | U.S. Citizen Recruitment Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39) |
June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2794 | Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49) |
June 24, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2912 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 31) |
June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3011 | Separate Housing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 53) |
July 23, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3258 | Temporary Farm Workers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2/25 | H Amdt 497 | Death Sentence Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 300) |
5/20 | H Amdt 643 | Abortion Private Funding Restoration Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 232) |
7/20 | H Amdt 744 | Labor Political Activity Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (150 - 248) |
8/07 | H Amdt 871 | Adoption Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192) |
8/06 | H Amdt 874 | Low Income Educational Scholarship Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 208) |
8/06 | H Amdt 874 | Low Income Educational Scholarship Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 208) |
9/25 | H Amdt 914 | Save Social Security Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 216) |
10/08 | H Amdt 923 | Contraceptive Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200) |
3/18 | H Con Res 227 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U.S. Troop Removal Resolution | Resolution Failed - House (193 - 225) |
4/22 | H J Res 111 | Tax Limitation Amendment | Joint Resolution Failed - House (238 - 186) |
10/05 | HR 1154 | Indian Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures | Bill Failed - House (190 - 208) |
5/05 | HR 1385 | Training Programs bill | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 7) |
9/25 | HR 2621 | Reciprocal Trade Agreement Bill | Bill Failed - House (180 - 243) |
2/25 | HR 2631 | Line Item Veto Cancellation bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
2/05 | HR 2631 | Line Item Veto Cancellation bill | Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69) |
6/18 | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (225 - 197) |
6/24 | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 36) |
4/23 | HR 2646 | Education Savings Accounts bill | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
3/26 | HR 3246 | Small Business and Employee Fairness bill | Bill Passed - House (202 - 200) |
3/30 | HR 3581 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Bill Failed - House (74 - 337) |
10/01 | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
9/24 | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (373 - 50) |
5/21 | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (357 - 60) |
7/15 | HR 3682 | Child Custody Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (276 - 150) |
9/24 | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
6/22 | HR 4059 | Military Construction FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (396 - 10) |
9/29 | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 2) |
9/28 | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (369 - 43) |
6/24 | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (358 - 61) |
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 | HR 4112 | Legislative Branch FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (235 - 179) |
7/23 | HR 4193 | Interior Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (245 - 181) |
10/08 | HR 4194 | FY 1999 VA-HUD Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 1) |
10/06 | HR 4194 | FY 1999 VA-HUD Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (409 - 14) |
7/29 | HR 4194 | Appropriations bill FY99, Veterans Affairs, HUD | Bill Passed - House (259 - 164) |
9/25 | HR 4578 | Social Security Account Protection bill | Bill Passed - House (240 - 188) |
12/19 | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - House (148 - 285) |
12/19 | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Passed - House (228 - 206) |
12/19 | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Passed - House (221 - 212) |
12/19 | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - House (205 - 229) |
2/10 | PN 623 | David Satcher, Surgeon General of the Public Health Service | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 35) |
4/30 | S 1502 | Washington, D.C. School Vouchers bill | Bill Passed - House (214 - 206) |
5/18 | S 1723 | Non-Immigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
4/01 | S Amdt 2169 | Medicare Choices Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47) |
4/01 | S Amdt 2209 | Personal Retirement Accounts Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
5/18 | S Amdt 2417 | U.S. Citizen Recruitment Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39) |
6/25 | S Amdt 2794 | Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49) |
6/24 | S Amdt 2912 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 31) |
6/25 | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
6/25 | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
6/25 | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
6/25 | S Amdt 3011 | Separate Housing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 53) |
7/23 | S Amdt 3258 | Temporary Farm Workers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31) |