Key Votes

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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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
July 14, 2005 National S Amdt 1171 Detention Beds Increase Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 56)
July 14, 2005 National S Amdt 1222 Disclosure of Classified Information Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
July 14, 2005 National HR 2360 Homeland Security Department FY 2006 Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
July 14, 2005 National HR 3100 East Asia Security Act of 2005 Bill Failed - House (215 - 203)
July 12, 2005 National HR 741 Independent Review of OSHA Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (226 - 197)
July 1, 2005 National HR 2419 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3)
June 30, 2005 National H Amdt 427 Eminent Domain Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (231 - 189)
June 30, 2005 National HR 3058 Transportation, Treasury, HUD and Judiciary Appropriation Bill Passed - House (405 - 18)
June 30, 2005 National S 1307 CAFTA Implementation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 45)
June 29, 2005 National HR 2361 Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 0)
June 28, 2005 National HR 6 Energy Policy Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 12)
June 28, 2005 National HR 3057 Foreign Operations FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (393 - 32)
June 23, 2005 National H Amdt 343 Restoring Funds for Public Broadcasting Amendment Adopted - House (284 - 140)
June 23, 2005 National H Amdt 346 Annual Fit Test Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 216)
June 22, 2005 National H J Res 10 Flag Desecration Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (286 - 130)
June 22, 2005 National HR 2985 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - House (330 - 82)
June 20, 2005 National PN 326 John Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 38)
June 20, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (398 - 19)
June 17, 2005 National HR 2745 United Nations Reform Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (221 - 184)
June 16, 2005 National S Amdt 784 Reduction in Dependence on Foreign Oil Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
June 16, 2005 National S Amdt 791 Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 48)
June 16, 2005 National HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (418 - 7)
June 15, 2005 National H Amdt 270 Bans Use of Funds to Enforce Cuba Regulations Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 216)
June 15, 2005 National H Amdt 280 Patriot Act Amendment - Library Records Amendment Adopted - House (238 - 187)
June 15, 2005 National H Amdt 272 Medical Marijuana Use Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (161 - 264)
June 14, 2005 National PN 202 Thomas B. Griffith, Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Nomination Confirmed - Senate (73 - 24)
June 14, 2005 National S Amdt 781 Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 38)
June 9, 2005 National PN 200 William H. Pryor, Jr., Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 45)
June 9, 2005 National H J Res 27 Withdrawing Approval from the WTO Agreement Joint Resolution Failed - House (86 - 338)
June 8, 2005 National PN 201 Janice R Brown, Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
June 8, 2005 National HR 2744 Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (408 - 18)
May 26, 2005 National PN 326 John Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
May 25, 2005 National PN 194 Priscilla R. Owen, Fifth Circuit Judge Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 43)
May 25, 2005 National H Amdt 209 Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233)
May 25, 2005 National HR 1815 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (390 - 39)
May 24, 2005 National PN 194 Priscilla R. Owen, Fifth Circuit Judge Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 18)
May 24, 2005 National HR 810 Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 Bill Passed - House (238 - 194)
May 24, 2005 National HR 2419 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (416 - 13)
May 19, 2005 National HR 2361 Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (329 - 89)
May 18, 2005 National HR 1817 Homeland Security Department Authorization Act FY06 Bill Passed - House (424 - 4)
May 17, 2005 National HR 3 Transportation Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 11)
May 17, 2005 National HR 2360 Homeland Security Department FY 2006 Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (424 - 1)
May 10, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0)
May 5, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 58)
April 28, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211)
April 28, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
April 27, 2005 National HR 748 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 157)
April 21, 2005 National H Amdt 370 Liability Shield Language Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219)
April 21, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0)
April 21, 2005 National HR 6 Energy Policy Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (249 - 183)
Date No. Title Outcome
7/14 S Amdt 1171 Detention Beds Increase Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 56)
7/14 S Amdt 1222 Disclosure of Classified Information Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
7/14 HR 2360 Homeland Security Department FY 2006 Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
7/14 HR 3100 East Asia Security Act of 2005 Bill Failed - House (215 - 203)
7/12 HR 741 Independent Review of OSHA Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (226 - 197)
7/01 HR 2419 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3)
6/30 H Amdt 427 Eminent Domain Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (231 - 189)
6/30 HR 3058 Transportation, Treasury, HUD and Judiciary Appropriation Bill Passed - House (405 - 18)
6/30 S 1307 CAFTA Implementation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 45)
6/29 HR 2361 Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 0)
6/28 HR 6 Energy Policy Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 12)
6/28 HR 3057 Foreign Operations FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (393 - 32)
6/23 H Amdt 343 Restoring Funds for Public Broadcasting Amendment Adopted - House (284 - 140)
6/23 H Amdt 346 Annual Fit Test Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (206 - 216)
6/22 H J Res 10 Flag Desecration Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (286 - 130)
6/22 HR 2985 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - House (330 - 82)
6/20 PN 326 John Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 38)
6/20 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (398 - 19)
6/17 HR 2745 United Nations Reform Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (221 - 184)
6/16 S Amdt 784 Reduction in Dependence on Foreign Oil Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
6/16 S Amdt 791 Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 48)
6/16 HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (418 - 7)
6/15 H Amdt 270 Bans Use of Funds to Enforce Cuba Regulations Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 216)
6/15 H Amdt 280 Patriot Act Amendment - Library Records Amendment Adopted - House (238 - 187)
6/15 H Amdt 272 Medical Marijuana Use Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (161 - 264)
6/14 PN 202 Thomas B. Griffith, Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Nomination Confirmed - Senate (73 - 24)
6/14 S Amdt 781 Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 38)
6/09 PN 200 William H. Pryor, Jr., Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 45)
6/09 H J Res 27 Withdrawing Approval from the WTO Agreement Joint Resolution Failed - House (86 - 338)
6/08 PN 201 Janice R Brown, Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
6/08 HR 2744 Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (408 - 18)
5/26 PN 326 John Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
5/25 PN 194 Priscilla R. Owen, Fifth Circuit Judge Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 43)
5/25 H Amdt 209 Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233)
5/25 HR 1815 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - House (390 - 39)
5/24 PN 194 Priscilla R. Owen, Fifth Circuit Judge Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 18)
5/24 HR 810 Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 Bill Passed - House (238 - 194)
5/24 HR 2419 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (416 - 13)
5/19 HR 2361 Interior Department FY 2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (329 - 89)
5/18 HR 1817 Homeland Security Department Authorization Act FY06 Bill Passed - House (424 - 4)
5/17 HR 3 Transportation Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 11)
5/17 HR 2360 Homeland Security Department FY 2006 Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (424 - 1)
5/10 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0)
5/05 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Conference Report Adopted - House (368 - 58)
4/28 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211)
4/28 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
4/27 HR 748 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (270 - 157)
4/21 H Amdt 370 Liability Shield Language Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 219)
4/21 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0)
4/21 HR 6 Energy Policy Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (249 - 183)

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