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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 26, 1996 | National | Treaty Doc. 103-1 | The START II Treaty | Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (87 - 4) |
| Jan. 24, 1996 | National | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129) |
| Jan. 3, 1996 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156) |
| Dec. 19, 1995 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 43) |
| Dec. 15, 1995 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (267 - 149) |
| Dec. 13, 1995 | National | S J Res 44 | Deployment of US Armed Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (69 - 30) |
| Dec. 13, 1995 | National | HR 2770 | Troop Deployment in Bosnia Bill | Bill Failed - House (210 - 218) |
| Nov. 17, 1995 | National | HR 2606 | U.S. Troops in Bosnia Funding Bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 171) |
| Nov. 16, 1995 | National | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 39) |
| Nov. 16, 1995 | National | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 158) |
| Oct. 30, 1995 | National | H Res 247 | Bosnia Troop Deployment Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (315 - 103) |
| Sept. 22, 1995 | National | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 14) |
| Sept. 20, 1995 | National | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (326 - 98) |
| Sept. 7, 1995 | National | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Bill Passed - House (294 - 125) |
| Sept. 6, 1995 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34) |
| Aug. 10, 1995 | National | S Amdt 2401 | Space-Based Laser Program Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 41) |
| July 21, 1995 | National | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 10) |
| June 21, 1995 | National | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (319 - 105) |
| June 15, 1995 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Bill Passed - House (300 - 126) |
| Feb. 16, 1995 | National | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| Sept. 29, 1994 | National | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (327 - 86) |
| Sept. 13, 1994 | National | S 2182 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 18) |
| Aug. 17, 1994 | National | S 2182 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 137) |
| Aug. 11, 1994 | National | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14) |
| Aug. 10, 1994 | National | HR 4453 | Military Construction FY95 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 5) |
| July 15, 1994 | National | HR 4453 | Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 2) |
| July 1, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2142 | B-2 Bomber Funding | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
| June 29, 1994 | National | S Amdt 2117 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65) |
| June 29, 1994 | National | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (330 - 91) |
| June 9, 1994 | National | H Amdt 574 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226) |
| May 24, 1994 | National | H Amdt 575 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 236) |
| May 24, 1994 | National | HR 4453 | Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (380 - 42) |
| May 23, 1994 | National | H Amdt 570 | Ending Requirement for Selective Service Registration | Amendment Rejected - House (125 - 273) |
| May 12, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1696 | Bosnia-Herzegovina Policy Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| April 19, 1994 | National | PN 1210 | Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43) |
| Nov. 10, 1993 | National | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9) |
| Oct. 21, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1072 | Restriction of Funding for Haiti Operations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 81) |
| Oct. 19, 1993 | National | HR 2446 | Military Construction Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| Oct. 15, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1043 | Ending Military Operations in Somalia | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Sept. 30, 1993 | National | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 102) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| Sept. 10, 1993 | National | S Amdt 816 | Postponement of Base Closures Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 79) |
| Sept. 9, 1993 | National | S Amdt 790 | U.S. Policy Towards Somalia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (90 - 7) |
| Sept. 9, 1993 | National | S Amdt 785 | Ballistic Missile Defense Funding Reducation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 48) |
| Sept. 9, 1993 | National | H Amdt 291 | Burden Sharing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 216) |
| June 23, 1993 | National | HR 2446 | Military Construction Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (347 - 67) |
| May 25, 1993 | National | S J Res 45 | Authorization for Use of U.S. Armed Forces in Somalia | Bill Passed - House (243 - 179) |
| Feb. 4, 1993 | National | H Res 71 | Agreeing to Family and Medical Leave Bill | Resolution Passed - House (247 - 152) |
| May 7, 1992 | National | H Amdt 529 | Elimination of Funds for Seawolf Submarines and Other Programs | Amendment Rejected - House (150 - 266) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/26 | Treaty Doc. 103-1 | The START II Treaty | Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (87 - 4) |
| 1/24 | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129) |
| 1/03 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156) |
| 12/19 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 43) |
| 12/15 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (267 - 149) |
| 12/13 | S J Res 44 | Deployment of US Armed Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (69 - 30) |
| 12/13 | HR 2770 | Troop Deployment in Bosnia Bill | Bill Failed - House (210 - 218) |
| 11/17 | HR 2606 | U.S. Troops in Bosnia Funding Bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 171) |
| 11/16 | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 39) |
| 11/16 | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 158) |
| 10/30 | H Res 247 | Bosnia Troop Deployment Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (315 - 103) |
| 9/22 | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 14) |
| 9/20 | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (326 - 98) |
| 9/07 | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Bill Passed - House (294 - 125) |
| 9/06 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34) |
| 8/10 | S Amdt 2401 | Space-Based Laser Program Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 41) |
| 7/21 | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 10) |
| 6/21 | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (319 - 105) |
| 6/15 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Bill Passed - House (300 - 126) |
| 2/16 | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| 9/29 | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (327 - 86) |
| 9/13 | S 2182 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 18) |
| 8/17 | S 2182 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 | Conference Report Adopted - House (280 - 137) |
| 8/11 | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14) |
| 8/10 | HR 4453 | Military Construction FY95 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 5) |
| 7/15 | HR 4453 | Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 2) |
| 7/01 | S Amdt 2142 | B-2 Bomber Funding | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
| 6/29 | S Amdt 2117 | Military Operations in Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65) |
| 6/29 | HR 4650 | Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (330 - 91) |
| 6/09 | H Amdt 574 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226) |
| 5/24 | H Amdt 575 | U.S. Policy on Haiti Substitute Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (191 - 236) |
| 5/24 | HR 4453 | Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (380 - 42) |
| 5/23 | H Amdt 570 | Ending Requirement for Selective Service Registration | Amendment Rejected - House (125 - 273) |
| 5/12 | S Amdt 1696 | Bosnia-Herzegovina Policy Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 4/19 | PN 1210 | Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43) |
| 11/10 | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9) |
| 10/21 | S Amdt 1072 | Restriction of Funding for Haiti Operations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 81) |
| 10/19 | HR 2446 | Military Construction Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| 10/15 | S Amdt 1043 | Ending Military Operations in Somalia | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 9/30 | HR 3116 | Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 102) |
| 9/29 | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| 9/10 | S Amdt 816 | Postponement of Base Closures Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 79) |
| 9/09 | S Amdt 790 | U.S. Policy Towards Somalia Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (90 - 7) |
| 9/09 | S Amdt 785 | Ballistic Missile Defense Funding Reducation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 48) |
| 9/09 | H Amdt 291 | Burden Sharing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 216) |
| 6/23 | HR 2446 | Military Construction Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (347 - 67) |
| 5/25 | S J Res 45 | Authorization for Use of U.S. Armed Forces in Somalia | Bill Passed - House (243 - 179) |
| 2/04 | H Res 71 | Agreeing to Family and Medical Leave Bill | Resolution Passed - House (247 - 152) |
| 5/07 | H Amdt 529 | Elimination of Funds for Seawolf Submarines and Other Programs | Amendment Rejected - House (150 - 266) |