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
Jan. 10, 2023 National H Res 12 Establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government as a select investigative subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary Resolution Passed - House (221 - 211)
Jan. 3, 2023 WI SJR 1 Establishes the 2023 Legislative Session Schedule Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
Jan. 3, 2023 PA SR 1 Amends Senate Ethics Rules Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
July 28, 2022 National HR 4346 Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022) Concurrence Vote Passed - House (243 - 187)
July 27, 2022 National HR 4346 Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022) Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 33)
April 28, 2022 MN SF 4476 Amends Legislative District Boundaries Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 1)
April 13, 2022 KY HB 248 Limits the Governor's Power to Challenge the Constitutionality of Bills Passed by the General Assembly Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
April 13, 2022 KY HB 248 Limits the Governor's Power to Challenge the Constitutionality of Bills Passed by the General Assembly Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 24)
April 13, 2022 NE LB 686 Expands Membership of Executive Board of Legislative Council Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5)
March 29, 2022 NE LB 1011 Appropriates Funds for Upcoming Fiscal Years Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 4)
March 23, 2022 MO HB 2117 Establishes New Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 23, 2022 KS HCR 5014 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Provide Legislative Oversight to the Executive Branch Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
March 17, 2022 NH HB 52 Establishes New US House Districts Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11)
March 10, 2022 NC SJR 748 Specifies Rules, Restrictions for Upcoming Legislative Sessions Bill Passed - House (106 - 5)
March 7, 2022 AR HR 1022 Repeals Secret Ballot Voting for House Speaker Elections Bill Failed - House (24 - 62)
March 4, 2022 WA HB 1927 Requires Employer Flexibility for Part-Time Legislators Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4)
Feb. 21, 2022 KS HCR 5014 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Provide Legislative Oversight to the Executive Branch Joint Resolution Passed - House (85 - 39)
Feb. 8, 2022 WA HB 1927 Requires Employer Flexibility for Part-Time Legislators Bill Passed - House (80 - 16)
Feb. 8, 2022 MS HCR 39 Amends Constitution to Expand Citizen Involvement in Lawmaking Bill Passed - House
Jan. 19, 2022 MO HB 2117 Establishes New Congressional Districts Bill Passed - House (95 - 55)
Jan. 12, 2022 VA HR 3 Establishes House Rules for the 2022 Legislative Session Bill Passed - House (51 - 48)
Jan. 10, 2022 CA AJR 22 Establishes Sense of Assembly Regarding Jan. 6 Events, Investigation Bill Passed - House (54 - 2)
Jan. 5, 2022 ME SP 620 Authorizes Legislature to Continue Meeting Electronically Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 53)
Jan. 5, 2022 ME SP 620 Authorizes Legislature to Continue Meeting Electronically Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Jan. 5, 2022 NH HB 52 Establishes New US House Districts Bill Passed - House (186 - 164)
Nov. 18, 2021 OH SB 258 Establishes Congressional District Boundaries Bill Passed - House (55 - 37)
Nov. 17, 2021 National H Res 789 Censuring Representative Paul Gosar Resolution Passed - House (223 - 207)
Nov. 16, 2021 OH SB 258 Establishes Congressional District Boundaries Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Nov. 4, 2021 NC SB 740 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - House (65 - 49)
Nov. 2, 2021 NC SB 740 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Oct. 28, 2021 IL HB 1291 Amends State Congressional Districts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 43)
Oct. 28, 2021 IL HB 1291 Amends State Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 18)
Oct. 28, 2021 IA SF 621 Establishes Congressional and Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
Oct. 21, 2021 National H Res 730 Recommending that the House of Representatives find Stephen K. Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena duly issued by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol Resolution Passed - House (229 - 202)
Oct. 1, 2021 IN HB 1581 Amends Redistricting Maps Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 25)
Oct. 1, 2021 IN HB 1581 Amends Redistricting Maps Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
Sept. 23, 2021 MA H 4121 Establishes House Working Group on COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (131 - 28)
Sept. 15, 2021 NC SB 360 Prohibits Any State Agency from Settling Certain Lawsuits Without the Approval of the General Assembly Bill Passed - House (58 - 47)
Aug. 24, 2021 National H Res 601 Providing for consideration of (H.R. 4) John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to (H.R. 3684) Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; and providing for the adoption of the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 14); and for other purposes Resolution Passed - House (220 - 212)
Aug. 11, 2021 National S Con Res 14 A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2022 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2023 through 2031 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 49)
July 29, 2021 National HR 4502 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022 Bill Passed - House (219 - 208)
July 28, 2021 National HR 4346 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2022 Bill Passed - House (215 - 207)
June 30, 2021 National H Res 503 Establishing the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol Bill Passed - House (222 - 190)
June 29, 2021 National HR 2662 IG Independence and Empowerment Act Bill Passed - House (221 - 182)
June 25, 2021 PA SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
June 25, 2021 PA SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Bill Passed - House (140 - 61)
June 24, 2021 National S J Res 13 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission relating to "Update of Commission's Conciliation Procedures". Joint Resolution Passed - House (219 - 210)
June 23, 2021 WI AB 369 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
June 16, 2021 OH HR 69 Alleges Larry Householder Should be Expelled from the Legislature Resolution Passed - House (75 - 21)
June 16, 2021 WI AB 369 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/10 H Res 12 Establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government as a select investigative subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary Resolution Passed - House (221 - 211)
1/03 SJR 1 Establishes the 2023 Legislative Session Schedule Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
1/03 SR 1 Amends Senate Ethics Rules Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
7/28 HR 4346 Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022) Concurrence Vote Passed - House (243 - 187)
7/27 HR 4346 Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022) Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 33)
4/28 SF 4476 Amends Legislative District Boundaries Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 1)
4/13 HB 248 Limits the Governor's Power to Challenge the Constitutionality of Bills Passed by the General Assembly Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
4/13 HB 248 Limits the Governor's Power to Challenge the Constitutionality of Bills Passed by the General Assembly Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 24)
4/13 LB 686 Expands Membership of Executive Board of Legislative Council Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5)
3/29 LB 1011 Appropriates Funds for Upcoming Fiscal Years Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 4)
3/23 HB 2117 Establishes New Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/23 HCR 5014 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Provide Legislative Oversight to the Executive Branch Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
3/17 HB 52 Establishes New US House Districts Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11)
3/10 SJR 748 Specifies Rules, Restrictions for Upcoming Legislative Sessions Bill Passed - House (106 - 5)
3/07 HR 1022 Repeals Secret Ballot Voting for House Speaker Elections Bill Failed - House (24 - 62)
3/04 HB 1927 Requires Employer Flexibility for Part-Time Legislators Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4)
2/21 HCR 5014 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Provide Legislative Oversight to the Executive Branch Joint Resolution Passed - House (85 - 39)
2/08 HB 1927 Requires Employer Flexibility for Part-Time Legislators Bill Passed - House (80 - 16)
2/08 HCR 39 Amends Constitution to Expand Citizen Involvement in Lawmaking Bill Passed - House
1/19 HB 2117 Establishes New Congressional Districts Bill Passed - House (95 - 55)
1/12 HR 3 Establishes House Rules for the 2022 Legislative Session Bill Passed - House (51 - 48)
1/10 AJR 22 Establishes Sense of Assembly Regarding Jan. 6 Events, Investigation Bill Passed - House (54 - 2)
1/05 SP 620 Authorizes Legislature to Continue Meeting Electronically Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 53)
1/05 SP 620 Authorizes Legislature to Continue Meeting Electronically Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
1/05 HB 52 Establishes New US House Districts Bill Passed - House (186 - 164)
11/18 SB 258 Establishes Congressional District Boundaries Bill Passed - House (55 - 37)
11/17 H Res 789 Censuring Representative Paul Gosar Resolution Passed - House (223 - 207)
11/16 SB 258 Establishes Congressional District Boundaries Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
11/04 SB 740 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - House (65 - 49)
11/02 SB 740 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
10/28 HB 1291 Amends State Congressional Districts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 43)
10/28 HB 1291 Amends State Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 18)
10/28 SF 621 Establishes Congressional and Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
10/21 H Res 730 Recommending that the House of Representatives find Stephen K. Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena duly issued by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol Resolution Passed - House (229 - 202)
10/01 HB 1581 Amends Redistricting Maps Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 25)
10/01 HB 1581 Amends Redistricting Maps Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
9/23 H 4121 Establishes House Working Group on COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (131 - 28)
9/15 SB 360 Prohibits Any State Agency from Settling Certain Lawsuits Without the Approval of the General Assembly Bill Passed - House (58 - 47)
8/24 H Res 601 Providing for consideration of (H.R. 4) John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to (H.R. 3684) Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; and providing for the adoption of the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 14); and for other purposes Resolution Passed - House (220 - 212)
8/11 S Con Res 14 A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2022 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2023 through 2031 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 49)
7/29 HR 4502 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022 Bill Passed - House (219 - 208)
7/28 HR 4346 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2022 Bill Passed - House (215 - 207)
6/30 H Res 503 Establishing the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol Bill Passed - House (222 - 190)
6/29 HR 2662 IG Independence and Empowerment Act Bill Passed - House (221 - 182)
6/25 SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
6/25 SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Bill Passed - House (140 - 61)
6/24 S J Res 13 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission relating to "Update of Commission's Conciliation Procedures". Joint Resolution Passed - House (219 - 210)
6/23 AB 369 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
6/16 HR 69 Alleges Larry Householder Should be Expelled from the Legislature Resolution Passed - House (75 - 21)
6/16 AB 369 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)

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