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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 13, 1998 | National | S 1260 | Securities Litigation | Conference Report Adopted - House (319 - 82) |
| Sept. 25, 1998 | National | HR 2621 | Reciprocal Trade Agreement Bill | Bill Failed - House (180 - 243) |
| Sept. 24, 1998 | National | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
| July 30, 1998 | National | H J Res 120 | Vietnam Trade Waiver Disapproval resolution | Joint Resolution Failed - House (163 - 260) |
| July 22, 1998 | National | H J Res 121 | Disapproval of 'Normal Trade Relations' Status with China | Joint Resolution Failed - House (166 - 264) |
| May 13, 1998 | National | H Amdt 621 | Enhance Banking Flexibility Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (140 - 281) |
| May 13, 1998 | National | S 1260 | Securities Litigation | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21) |
| May 13, 1998 | National | HR 10 | Financial Services Act of 1998 | Bill Passed - House (214 - 213) |
| March 11, 1998 | National | HR 1432 | African Growth bill | Bill Passed - House (233 - 186) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
| Nov. 4, 1997 | National | HR 2644 | United States-Caribbean Trade Partnership Act | Bill Failed - House (182 - 234) |
| July 17, 1997 | National | S Amdt 890 | Most Favored Nation Repeal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 77) |
| June 24, 1997 | National | H J Res 79 | China Most-Favored-Nation Resolution | Joint Resolution Failed - House (173 - 259) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| July 11, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1273 | Drug Price Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 242) |
| July 9, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229) |
| May 23, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188) |
| May 22, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 10) |
| May 9, 1996 | National | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163) |
| March 29, 1996 | National | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158) |
| March 21, 1996 | National | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
| March 7, 1996 | National | H Amdt 947 | Lobby Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (211 - 209) |
| March 6, 1996 | National | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 86) |
| March 5, 1996 | National | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 22) |
| Dec. 22, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (68 - 30) |
| Dec. 20, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Veto Override Passed - House (319 - 100) |
| Dec. 6, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (320 - 102) |
| Dec. 5, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 30) |
| Oct. 19, 1995 | National | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24) |
| July 11, 1995 | National | S Amdt 1497 | Small Business Impact Analysis | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 45) |
| July 10, 1995 | National | S Amdt 1491 | Small Business Impact Analyses | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 36) |
| June 28, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30) |
| May 10, 1995 | National | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| April 5, 1995 | National | HR 1215 | Contract With America Tax Relief Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (246 - 188) |
| March 8, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 99) |
| Dec. 1, 1994 | National | HR 5110 | Uruguay Round Agreements Act | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 24) |
| Nov. 29, 1994 | National | HR 5110 | Uruguay Round Agreements Act | Bill Passed - House (288 - 146) |
| July 1, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1851 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| June 29, 1994 | National | S 687 | Product Liability Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41) |
| June 9, 1994 | National | H Amdt 611 | Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178) |
| May 12, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1695 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| March 16, 1994 | National | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| Jan. 27, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1263 | Vietnam Trade Embargo | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 38) |
| Nov. 23, 1993 | National | S 714 | Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 191) |
| Nov. 20, 1993 | National | S 714 | Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Nov. 20, 1993 | National | HR 3450 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Nov. 17, 1993 | National | HR 3450 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (234 - 200) |
| July 21, 1993 | National | H J Res 208 | China's Most Favored Nation Status | Joint Resolution Failed - House (105 - 318) |
| June 30, 1993 | National | HR 1876 | GATT Uruguay Round Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 16) |
| June 22, 1993 | National | HR 1876 | GATT Uruguay Round Bill | Bill Passed - House (295 - 126) |
| May 19, 1993 | National | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 167) |
| May 13, 1993 | National | S 714 | Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 35) |
| Oct. 1, 1992 | National | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Veto Override Failed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| Sept. 30, 1992 | National | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Veto Override Passed - House (345 - 74) |
| July 21, 1992 | National | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Bill Passed - House (339 - 62) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/13 | S 1260 | Securities Litigation | Conference Report Adopted - House (319 - 82) |
| 9/25 | HR 2621 | Reciprocal Trade Agreement Bill | Bill Failed - House (180 - 243) |
| 9/24 | HR 3736 | Nonimmigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - House (288 - 133) |
| 7/30 | H J Res 120 | Vietnam Trade Waiver Disapproval resolution | Joint Resolution Failed - House (163 - 260) |
| 7/22 | H J Res 121 | Disapproval of 'Normal Trade Relations' Status with China | Joint Resolution Failed - House (166 - 264) |
| 5/13 | H Amdt 621 | Enhance Banking Flexibility Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (140 - 281) |
| 5/13 | S 1260 | Securities Litigation | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21) |
| 5/13 | HR 10 | Financial Services Act of 1998 | Bill Passed - House (214 - 213) |
| 3/11 | HR 1432 | African Growth bill | Bill Passed - House (233 - 186) |
| 11/07 | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
| 11/04 | HR 2644 | United States-Caribbean Trade Partnership Act | Bill Failed - House (182 - 234) |
| 7/17 | S Amdt 890 | Most Favored Nation Repeal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 77) |
| 6/24 | H J Res 79 | China Most-Favored-Nation Resolution | Joint Resolution Failed - House (173 - 259) |
| 8/02 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72) |
| 8/02 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| 7/11 | H Amdt 1273 | Drug Price Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (180 - 242) |
| 7/09 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 229) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 1085 | Fair Labor Standards Act Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 188) |
| 5/22 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 10) |
| 5/09 | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163) |
| 3/29 | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158) |
| 3/21 | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 3/07 | H Amdt 947 | Lobby Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (211 - 209) |
| 3/06 | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 86) |
| 3/05 | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 22) |
| 12/22 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (68 - 30) |
| 12/20 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Veto Override Passed - House (319 - 100) |
| 12/06 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (320 - 102) |
| 12/05 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 30) |
| 10/19 | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24) |
| 7/11 | S Amdt 1497 | Small Business Impact Analysis | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 45) |
| 7/10 | S Amdt 1491 | Small Business Impact Analyses | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 36) |
| 6/28 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30) |
| 5/10 | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| 4/05 | HR 1215 | Contract With America Tax Relief Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (246 - 188) |
| 3/08 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 99) |
| 12/01 | HR 5110 | Uruguay Round Agreements Act | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 24) |
| 11/29 | HR 5110 | Uruguay Round Agreements Act | Bill Passed - House (288 - 146) |
| 7/01 | S Amdt 1851 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 6/29 | S 687 | Product Liability Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41) |
| 6/09 | H Amdt 611 | Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178) |
| 5/12 | S Amdt 1695 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 3/16 | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 1/27 | S Amdt 1263 | Vietnam Trade Embargo | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 38) |
| 11/23 | S 714 | Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 191) |
| 11/20 | S 714 | Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 11/20 | HR 3450 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 11/17 | HR 3450 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (234 - 200) |
| 7/21 | H J Res 208 | China's Most Favored Nation Status | Joint Resolution Failed - House (105 - 318) |
| 6/30 | HR 1876 | GATT Uruguay Round Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 16) |
| 6/22 | HR 1876 | GATT Uruguay Round Bill | Bill Passed - House (295 - 126) |
| 5/19 | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 167) |
| 5/13 | S 714 | Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 35) |
| 10/01 | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Veto Override Failed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 9/30 | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Veto Override Passed - House (345 - 74) |
| 7/21 | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Bill Passed - House (339 - 62) |