Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


Page 1 of 2
results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 12, 1998 National S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
June 4, 1998 National S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50)
Oct. 6, 1998 National HR 4101 Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 43)
June 24, 1998 National HR 4101 Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (373 - 48)
Sept. 17, 1998 National HR 4569 Appropriations Bill FY99, Foreign Operations Bill Passed - House (255 - 161)
Oct. 21, 1998 National HR 4328 Appropriations bill FY99, Omnibus Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 29)
Oct. 20, 1998 National HR 4328 Appropriations bill FY99, Omnibus Conference Report Adopted - House (333 - 95)
Oct. 7, 1998 National HR 4104 Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - House (290 - 137)
Sept. 3, 1998 National HR 4104 Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 5)
July 16, 1998 National HR 4104 Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service Bill Passed - House (218 - 203)
June 24, 1998 National HR 4103 Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (358 - 61)
Aug. 7, 1998 National HR 4380 District of Columbia FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (214 - 206)
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)
Sept. 29, 1998 National HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 0)
Feb. 11, 1998 National S 1601 Human Cloning Research bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (42 - 54)
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)
Oct. 7, 1998 National HR 3694 Intelligence FY99 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - House (337 - 83)
July 23, 1998 National HR 4193 Interior Department FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (245 - 181)
March 12, 1998 National S Amdt 1676 Intermodal Transportation Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (96 - 4)
Oct. 5, 1998 National HR 4655 Iraqi Liberation Act of 1998 Bill Passed - House (360 - 38)
Sept. 15, 1998 National S 2073 Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (280 - 126)
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)
April 1, 1998 National S Amdt 2169 Medicare Choices Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47)
June 25, 1998 National S Amdt 2794 Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49)
Sept. 18, 1998 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Failed - Senate (64 - 36)
July 23, 1998 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Passed - House (296 - 132)
Oct. 13, 1998 National S 1260 Securities Litigation Conference Report Adopted - House (319 - 82)
June 25, 1998 National S Amdt 3011 Separate Housing Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 53)
Sept. 25, 1998 National HR 4578 Social Security Account Protection bill Bill Passed - House (240 - 188)
April 28, 1998 National HR 1757 State Department FY98-99 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
Sept. 26, 1998 National HR 4579 Tax Cut bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 195)
July 23, 1998 National S Amdt 3258 Temporary Farm Workers Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31)
April 30, 1998 National S 1502 Washington, D.C. School Vouchers bill Bill Passed - House (214 - 206)
Feb. 24, 1998 National HR 424 Minimum Sentences for Gun Crimes Bill Passed - House (350 - 59)
Feb. 5, 1998 National HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69)
Feb. 25, 1998 National HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
July 20, 1998 National H Amdt 716 Noncitizen Campaign Contribution Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (267 - 131)
Aug. 7, 1998 National H Amdt 869 Illegal Drug Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (250 - 169)
May 5, 1998 National HR 1385 Training Programs bill Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 7)
Sept. 25, 1998 National H Amdt 914 Save Social Security Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 216)
Sept. 9, 1998 National S 1873 American Missile Protection bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (59 - 41)
Aug. 7, 1998 National H Amdt 871 Adoption Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192)
July 30, 1998 National S Amdt 3379 Federal Election Commission Term Length Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 54)
July 29, 1998 National S Amdt 3359 Married Tax Filing Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (48 - 51)
July 22, 1998 National S Amdt 3263 Phone Recording Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
July 21, 1998 National S Amdt 3230 Gun Lock Requirement Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 39)
June 24, 1998 National S Amdt 2912 Bosnia and Herzegovina Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 31)
June 4, 1998 National S Amdt 2438 Underage Tobacco Usage amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (29 - 66)
May 18, 1998 National S Amdt 2417 U.S. Citizen Recruitment Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39)
May 13, 1998 National H Amdt 621 Enhance Banking Flexibility Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (140 - 281)
April 1, 1998 National S Amdt 2175 School Modernization Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46)
March 30, 1998 National HR 3581 Campaign Finance Reform bill Bill Failed - House (74 - 337)
March 6, 1998 National S Amdt 1708 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (58 - 37)
March 4, 1998 National S Amdt 1682 Blood Alcohol Content Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 32)
May 13, 1998 National S 1260 Securities Litigation Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21)
May 14, 1998 National HR 2431 Religious Freedom Bill Passed - House (375 - 41)
Oct. 9, 1998 National HR 3150 Bankruptcy Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - House (300 - 125)
Oct. 8, 1998 National S 442 Internet Tax Freedom bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2)
Oct. 8, 1998 National H Amdt 923 Contraceptive Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200)
July 29, 1998 National HR 4194 Appropriations bill FY99, Veterans Affairs, HUD Bill Passed - House (259 - 164)
Oct. 2, 1998 National HR 4101 Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (333 - 53)
May 21, 1998 National HR 3616 Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill Bill Passed - House (357 - 60)
Oct. 5, 1998 National HR 1154 Indian Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Bill Failed - House (190 - 208)
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)
July 9, 1998 National HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
May 6, 1998 National HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 4)
Sept. 28, 1998 National HR 4103 Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (369 - 43)
Sept. 29, 1998 National HR 4103 Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 2)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/12 S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
6/04 S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50)
10/06 HR 4101 Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 43)
6/24 HR 4101 Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (373 - 48)
9/17 HR 4569 Appropriations Bill FY99, Foreign Operations Bill Passed - House (255 - 161)
10/21 HR 4328 Appropriations bill FY99, Omnibus Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 29)
10/20 HR 4328 Appropriations bill FY99, Omnibus Conference Report Adopted - House (333 - 95)
10/07 HR 4104 Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - House (290 - 137)
9/03 HR 4104 Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 5)
7/16 HR 4104 Appropriations bill FY99, Treasury, Postal Service Bill Passed - House (218 - 203)
6/24 HR 4103 Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (358 - 61)
8/07 HR 4380 District of Columbia FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (214 - 206)
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)
9/29 HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 0)
2/11 S 1601 Human Cloning Research bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (42 - 54)
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)
10/07 HR 3694 Intelligence FY99 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - House (337 - 83)
7/23 HR 4193 Interior Department FY99 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (245 - 181)
3/12 S Amdt 1676 Intermodal Transportation Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (96 - 4)
10/05 HR 4655 Iraqi Liberation Act of 1998 Bill Passed - House (360 - 38)
9/15 S 2073 Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (280 - 126)
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)
4/01 S Amdt 2169 Medicare Choices Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 47)
6/25 S Amdt 2794 Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49)
9/18 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Failed - Senate (64 - 36)
7/23 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Passed - House (296 - 132)
10/13 S 1260 Securities Litigation Conference Report Adopted - House (319 - 82)
6/25 S Amdt 3011 Separate Housing Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 53)
9/25 HR 4578 Social Security Account Protection bill Bill Passed - House (240 - 188)
4/28 HR 1757 State Department FY98-99 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
9/26 HR 4579 Tax Cut bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 195)
7/23 S Amdt 3258 Temporary Farm Workers Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31)
4/30 S 1502 Washington, D.C. School Vouchers bill Bill Passed - House (214 - 206)
2/24 HR 424 Minimum Sentences for Gun Crimes Bill Passed - House (350 - 59)
2/05 HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69)
2/25 HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
7/20 H Amdt 716 Noncitizen Campaign Contribution Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (267 - 131)
8/07 H Amdt 869 Illegal Drug Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (250 - 169)
5/05 HR 1385 Training Programs bill Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 7)
9/25 H Amdt 914 Save Social Security Act Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 216)
9/09 S 1873 American Missile Protection bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (59 - 41)
8/07 H Amdt 871 Adoption Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 192)
7/30 S Amdt 3379 Federal Election Commission Term Length Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 54)
7/29 S Amdt 3359 Married Tax Filing Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (48 - 51)
7/22 S Amdt 3263 Phone Recording Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
7/21 S Amdt 3230 Gun Lock Requirement Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 39)
6/24 S Amdt 2912 Bosnia and Herzegovina Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 31)
6/04 S Amdt 2438 Underage Tobacco Usage amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (29 - 66)
5/18 S Amdt 2417 U.S. Citizen Recruitment Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39)
5/13 H Amdt 621 Enhance Banking Flexibility Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (140 - 281)
4/01 S Amdt 2175 School Modernization Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46)
3/30 HR 3581 Campaign Finance Reform bill Bill Failed - House (74 - 337)
3/06 S Amdt 1708 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (58 - 37)
3/04 S Amdt 1682 Blood Alcohol Content Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 32)
5/13 S 1260 Securities Litigation Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21)
5/14 HR 2431 Religious Freedom Bill Passed - House (375 - 41)
10/09 HR 3150 Bankruptcy Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - House (300 - 125)
10/08 S 442 Internet Tax Freedom bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2)
10/08 H Amdt 923 Contraceptive Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200)
7/29 HR 4194 Appropriations bill FY99, Veterans Affairs, HUD Bill Passed - House (259 - 164)
10/02 HR 4101 Agriculture FY99 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (333 - 53)
5/21 HR 3616 Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill Bill Passed - House (357 - 60)
10/05 HR 1154 Indian Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Bill Failed - House (190 - 208)
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)
7/09 HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
5/06 HR 6 Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension bill Bill Passed - House (414 - 4)
9/28 HR 4103 Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (369 - 43)
9/29 HR 4103 Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 2)

Page 1 of 2
arrow_upward