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
June 20, 2000 National S Amdt 3473 Hate Crimes Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 42)
June 20, 2000 National S Amdt 3473 Hate Crimes Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 42)
Feb. 16, 2000 National HR 2366 Small Business Liability Reform bill Bill Passed - House (221 - 193)
Feb. 2, 2000 National S Amdt 2763 Violent Protesters Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (80 - 17)
Oct. 15, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
Oct. 14, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18)
Sept. 30, 1999 National HR 2436 Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (254 - 172)
Sept. 9, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Bill Passed - House (235 - 187)
Sept. 9, 1999 National H Con Res 180 Puerto Rican Nationals resolution Resolution Passed - House (311 - 41)
July 15, 1999 National S Amdt 1250 Patient Lawsuit Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 47)
June 18, 1999 National H Amdt 215 24 Hour Background Check Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 211)
June 18, 1999 National H Amdt 216 72 Hour Background Check Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 235)
June 18, 1999 National HR 2122 Mandatory Gun Show Background Check Act Bill Failed - House (147 - 280)
June 17, 1999 National HR 1501 Juvenile Justice bill Bill Passed - House (287 - 139)
May 20, 1999 National S Amdt 362 Gun Show Sale Regulation Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 50)
May 20, 1999 National HR 1141 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 36)
May 20, 1999 National S 254 Juvenile Crime bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 25)
May 18, 1999 National HR 1141 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report Conference Report Adopted - House (269 - 158)
March 24, 1999 National HR 1141 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report Bill Passed - House (220 - 211)
Oct. 13, 1998 National S 1260 Securities Litigation Conference Report Adopted - House (319 - 82)
Oct. 7, 1998 National HR 3694 Intelligence FY99 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - House (337 - 83)
Sept. 18, 1998 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Failed - Senate (64 - 36)
Sept. 17, 1998 National HR 4569 Appropriations Bill FY99, Foreign Operations Bill Passed - House (255 - 161)
Sept. 16, 1998 National H Amdt 887 Illegal Drug Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (291 - 133)
Sept. 15, 1998 National S 2073 Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (280 - 126)
Aug. 7, 1998 National H Amdt 869 Illegal Drug Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (250 - 169)
July 30, 1998 National H Amdt 747 Voter Registration Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 260)
July 23, 1998 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Passed - House (296 - 132)
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 9, 1998 National S Amdt 2451 Illegal Drug Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 46)
May 13, 1998 National S 1260 Securities Litigation Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21)
April 30, 1998 National HR 3579 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11)
April 30, 1998 National HR 3579 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (242 - 163)
March 31, 1998 National S Amdt 2168 Tobacco Immunity Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 19)
March 31, 1998 National HR 3579 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (212 - 208)
Feb. 25, 1998 National H Amdt 497 Death Sentence Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 300)
Feb. 24, 1998 National HR 424 Minimum Sentences for Gun Crimes Bill Passed - House (350 - 59)
Feb. 24, 1998 National HR 424 Minimum Sentences for Gun Crimes Bill Passed - House (350 - 59)
Nov. 13, 1997 National H Res 301 Broadcast of Committee Witness bill Resolution Passed - House (241 - 165)
Nov. 7, 1997 National S 858 Intelligence FY98 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - House (385 - 36)
Nov. 7, 1997 National HR 2647 PLA Monitoring bill Bill Passed - House (408 - 10)
Oct. 22, 1997 National HR 1534 Private Property Rights bill Bill Passed - House (248 - 178)
Oct. 8, 1997 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (296 - 132)
Sept. 25, 1997 National HR 2266 Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65)
Sept. 25, 1997 National HR 2266 Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
July 29, 1997 National HR 2266 Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (322 - 105)
June 23, 1997 National H Amdt 192 Border Defense Personnel Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119)
June 19, 1997 National S Amdt 416 Intelligence Appropriations Declassification amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
May 20, 1997 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 36)
May 8, 1997 National HR 3 Juvenile Crime bill Bill Passed - House (286 - 132)
March 20, 1997 National S Amdt 25 U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
March 20, 1997 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - House (295 - 136)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3953 Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (389 - 22)
June 13, 1996 National H Amdt 1167 Spaced-based Weapons Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208)
May 22, 1996 National H Amdt 1075 Disclosure of Intelligence Spending Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 248)
May 9, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163)
May 7, 1996 National HR 2137 Megan's Law Bill Passed - House (418 - 0)
May 7, 1996 National HR 2137 Megan's Law Bill Passed - House (418 - 0)
April 30, 1996 National HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188)
April 18, 1996 National S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133)
April 18, 1996 National S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133)
April 17, 1996 National S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8)
April 17, 1996 National S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8)
March 29, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158)
March 28, 1996 National HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44)
March 22, 1996 National HR 125 Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 Bill Passed - House (239 - 173)
March 22, 1996 National HR 125 Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 Bill Passed - House (239 - 173)
March 21, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 40)
March 14, 1996 National H Amdt 954 Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283)
March 14, 1996 National H Amdt 954 Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283)
March 14, 1996 National HR 2703 Antiterrorism bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 191)
March 12, 1996 National HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172)
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. 14, 1995 National HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 16)
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)
June 28, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
June 8, 1995 National HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Bill Passed - House (222 - 192)
June 7, 1995 National S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
June 7, 1995 National S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
June 6, 1995 National S Amdt 1215 Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
June 6, 1995 National S Amdt 1215 Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
May 10, 1995 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
March 8, 1995 National HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Bill Passed - House (325 - 99)
Feb. 16, 1995 National HR 7 Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations Bill Passed - House (241 - 181)
Feb. 14, 1995 National HR 728 Anti-Crime bill Bill Passed - House (238 - 192)
Feb. 8, 1995 National HR 666 Admission of Evidence Seized Without a Warrant in Certain Conditions Bill Passed - House (289 - 142)
Feb. 8, 1995 National HR 666 Admission of Evidence Seized Without a Warrant in Certain Conditions Bill Passed - House (289 - 142)
Aug. 25, 1994 National HR 3355 Omnibus Crime Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (61 - 38)
Aug. 21, 1994 National HR 3355 Omnibus Crime Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 195)
July 19, 1994 National H Amdt 759 Intelligence Spending Disclosure Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 221)
June 29, 1994 National S 687 Product Liability Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
May 12, 1994 National S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30)
May 12, 1994 National S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30)
May 5, 1994 National S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174)
May 5, 1994 National S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174)
May 5, 1994 National HR 4296 Regulation of Semi-Automatic Assault Weapons Bill Passed - House (216 - 214)
April 21, 1994 National HR 4092 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 Bill Passed - House (285 - 141)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/20 S Amdt 3473 Hate Crimes Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 42)
6/20 S Amdt 3473 Hate Crimes Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 42)
2/16 HR 2366 Small Business Liability Reform bill Bill Passed - House (221 - 193)
2/02 S Amdt 2763 Violent Protesters Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (80 - 17)
10/15 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
10/14 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18)
9/30 HR 2436 Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 1999 Bill Passed - House (254 - 172)
9/09 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Bill Passed - House (235 - 187)
9/09 H Con Res 180 Puerto Rican Nationals resolution Resolution Passed - House (311 - 41)
7/15 S Amdt 1250 Patient Lawsuit Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 47)
6/18 H Amdt 215 24 Hour Background Check Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 211)
6/18 H Amdt 216 72 Hour Background Check Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 235)
6/18 HR 2122 Mandatory Gun Show Background Check Act Bill Failed - House (147 - 280)
6/17 HR 1501 Juvenile Justice bill Bill Passed - House (287 - 139)
5/20 S Amdt 362 Gun Show Sale Regulation Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 50)
5/20 HR 1141 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 36)
5/20 S 254 Juvenile Crime bill Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 25)
5/18 HR 1141 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report Conference Report Adopted - House (269 - 158)
3/24 HR 1141 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report Bill Passed - House (220 - 211)
10/13 S 1260 Securities Litigation Conference Report Adopted - House (319 - 82)
10/07 HR 3694 Intelligence FY99 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - House (337 - 83)
9/18 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Failed - Senate (64 - 36)
9/17 HR 4569 Appropriations Bill FY99, Foreign Operations Bill Passed - House (255 - 161)
9/16 H Amdt 887 Illegal Drug Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (291 - 133)
9/15 S 2073 Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (280 - 126)
8/07 H Amdt 869 Illegal Drug Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (250 - 169)
7/30 H Amdt 747 Voter Registration Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 260)
7/23 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Veto Override Passed - House (296 - 132)
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)
6/09 S Amdt 2451 Illegal Drug Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 46)
5/13 S 1260 Securities Litigation Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21)
4/30 HR 3579 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11)
4/30 HR 3579 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (242 - 163)
3/31 S Amdt 2168 Tobacco Immunity Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 19)
3/31 HR 3579 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (212 - 208)
2/25 H Amdt 497 Death Sentence Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 300)
2/24 HR 424 Minimum Sentences for Gun Crimes Bill Passed - House (350 - 59)
2/24 HR 424 Minimum Sentences for Gun Crimes Bill Passed - House (350 - 59)
11/13 H Res 301 Broadcast of Committee Witness bill Resolution Passed - House (241 - 165)
11/07 S 858 Intelligence FY98 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - House (385 - 36)
11/07 HR 2647 PLA Monitoring bill Bill Passed - House (408 - 10)
10/22 HR 1534 Private Property Rights bill Bill Passed - House (248 - 178)
10/08 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (296 - 132)
9/25 HR 2266 Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65)
9/25 HR 2266 Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
7/29 HR 2266 Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (322 - 105)
6/23 H Amdt 192 Border Defense Personnel Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119)
6/19 S Amdt 416 Intelligence Appropriations Declassification amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
5/20 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 36)
5/08 HR 3 Juvenile Crime bill Bill Passed - House (286 - 132)
3/20 S Amdt 25 U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
3/20 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - House (295 - 136)
8/02 HR 3953 Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (389 - 22)
6/13 H Amdt 1167 Spaced-based Weapons Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208)
5/22 H Amdt 1075 Disclosure of Intelligence Spending Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 248)
5/09 HR 956 Product Liability bill Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163)
5/07 HR 2137 Megan's Law Bill Passed - House (418 - 0)
5/07 HR 2137 Megan's Law Bill Passed - House (418 - 0)
4/30 HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188)
4/18 S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133)
4/18 S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133)
4/17 S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8)
4/17 S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8)
3/29 HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158)
3/28 HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44)
3/22 HR 125 Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 Bill Passed - House (239 - 173)
3/22 HR 125 Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 Bill Passed - House (239 - 173)
3/21 HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 40)
3/14 H Amdt 954 Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283)
3/14 H Amdt 954 Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283)
3/14 HR 2703 Antiterrorism bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 191)
3/12 HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172)
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)
12/14 HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 16)
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)
6/28 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
6/08 HR 1561 Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations Bill Passed - House (222 - 192)
6/07 S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
6/07 S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
6/06 S Amdt 1215 Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
6/06 S Amdt 1215 Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
5/10 HR 956 Product Liability bill Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
3/08 HR 1058 Legal Reform bill Bill Passed - House (325 - 99)
2/16 HR 7 Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations Bill Passed - House (241 - 181)
2/14 HR 728 Anti-Crime bill Bill Passed - House (238 - 192)
2/08 HR 666 Admission of Evidence Seized Without a Warrant in Certain Conditions Bill Passed - House (289 - 142)
2/08 HR 666 Admission of Evidence Seized Without a Warrant in Certain Conditions Bill Passed - House (289 - 142)
8/25 HR 3355 Omnibus Crime Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (61 - 38)
8/21 HR 3355 Omnibus Crime Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 195)
7/19 H Amdt 759 Intelligence Spending Disclosure Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 221)
6/29 S 687 Product Liability Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
5/12 S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30)
5/12 S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 30)
5/05 S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174)
5/05 S 636 Abortion Clinic Access bill Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174)
5/05 HR 4296 Regulation of Semi-Automatic Assault Weapons Bill Passed - House (216 - 214)
4/21 HR 4092 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 Bill Passed - House (285 - 141)

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