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
Sept. 18, 2013 National HR 761 National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (246 - 178)
July 24, 2013 National H Amdt 413 Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the PATRIOT Act Amendment Rejected - House (205 - 217)
July 24, 2013 National HR 2397 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014 Bill Passed - House (315 - 109)
July 23, 2013 National H Amdt 375 Prohibits the Use of Funds to Appoint Chaplains Without an Endorsing Agency Amendment Adopted - House (253 - 173)
June 14, 2013 National HR 1960 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 Bill Passed - House (315 - 108)
June 14, 2013 National H Amdt 168 Establishes Framework for the Closing of the Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by December 1, 2014 Amendment Rejected - House (174 - 249)
June 14, 2013 National H Amdt 167 Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Guantanamo Detainees to Yemen Amendment Adopted - House (236 - 188)
June 6, 2013 National HR 2217 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (245 - 182)
June 4, 2013 National H Amdt 84 Authorizes Funds for the Construction of United States Prison for Prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Amendment Rejected - House (170 - 254)
April 18, 2013 National HR 624 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (288 - 127)
March 21, 2013 National HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (318 - 109)
March 20, 2013 National HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26)
March 7, 2013 National PN 48 Nomination of John Brennan to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 34)
March 6, 2013 National HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - House (267 - 151)
Feb. 26, 2013 National PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 41)
Feb. 26, 2013 National PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (71 - 27)
Feb. 14, 2013 National PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 40)
Dec. 28, 2012 National HR 5949 FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 23)
Dec. 21, 2012 National HR 4310 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 14)
Dec. 20, 2012 National HR 4310 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Report Adopted - House (315 - 107)
Nov. 30, 2012 National S Amdt 3025 Requires Sufficient Sizing of Civilian and Contract Services Workforces Amendment Rejected - Senate (41 - 53)
Nov. 29, 2012 National S Amdt 3245 Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Individuals Detained at Guantanamo Bay Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41)
Nov. 29, 2012 National S Amdt 3096 Accelerated Transition of US Military Operations to the Government of Afghanistan Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 33)
Nov. 28, 2012 National S Amdt 2985 Repeals the Limit on the Use of Funds to Procure Alternative Fuel Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 37)
Nov. 28, 2012 National S Amdt 3095 Repeals the Prohibition on Biofuel Refinery Construction Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41)
Nov. 14, 2012 National S 3414 Cybersecurity Act of 2012 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
Sept. 13, 2012 National HR 6365 National Security and Job Protection Act Bill Passed - House (223 - 196)
Sept. 12, 2012 National HR 5949 FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (301 - 118)
Aug. 2, 2012 National S 3414 Cybersecurity Act of 2012 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
July 19, 2012 National HR 5856 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - House (326 - 90)
May 18, 2012 National HR 4310 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 Bill Passed - House (299 - 120)
May 18, 2012 National H Amdt 1127 Repeals Indefinite Military Detention Provisions Amendment Rejected - House (182 - 238)
May 18, 2012 National H Amdt 1140 Prohibits Reductions to Strategic Nuclear Arms Required by New START Amendment Adopted - House (238 - 162)
May 17, 2012 National H Amdt 1103 Limits Funding for War in Afghanistan to the Withdrawal of U.S. Forces Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 303)
May 10, 2012 National HR 5652 Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (218 - 199)
April 26, 2012 National HR 3523 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (248 - 168)
April 24, 2012 AZ SB 1182 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
April 19, 2012 AZ SB 1182 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Bill Passed - House (34 - 22)
Dec. 17, 2011 National HR 2055 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (67 - 32)
Dec. 16, 2011 National HR 2055 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (296 - 121)
Dec. 15, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13)
Dec. 14, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
Dec. 1, 2011 National S Amdt 1126 Prohibits Detention of U.S. Citizens Without Trial Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55)
Dec. 1, 2011 National S Amdt 1274 Authorizes Further Detention After Trial During Wartime Amendment Rejected - Senate (41 - 59)
Dec. 1, 2011 National S Amdt 1125 Limits New Detention Rules to Prisoners Captured Outside the U.S. Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55)
Nov. 29, 2011 National S Amdt 1107 Removes Provisions Requiring Military Custody of al-Qaeda Suspects Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 60)
Nov. 29, 2011 National S Amdt 1064 Repeals Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Amendment Rejected - Senate (30 - 67)
Oct. 21, 2011 National S Amdt 753 Prohibits the Use of Funds for Prosecution of Enemy Combatants in Civilian Courts Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
Sept. 23, 2011 National HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 203)
Sept. 22, 2011 National S Amdt 634 Sale of F-16 Aircraft to Taiwan Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 48)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/18 HR 761 National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (246 - 178)
7/24 H Amdt 413 Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the PATRIOT Act Amendment Rejected - House (205 - 217)
7/24 HR 2397 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014 Bill Passed - House (315 - 109)
7/23 H Amdt 375 Prohibits the Use of Funds to Appoint Chaplains Without an Endorsing Agency Amendment Adopted - House (253 - 173)
6/14 HR 1960 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 Bill Passed - House (315 - 108)
6/14 H Amdt 168 Establishes Framework for the Closing of the Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by December 1, 2014 Amendment Rejected - House (174 - 249)
6/14 H Amdt 167 Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Guantanamo Detainees to Yemen Amendment Adopted - House (236 - 188)
6/06 HR 2217 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (245 - 182)
6/04 H Amdt 84 Authorizes Funds for the Construction of United States Prison for Prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Amendment Rejected - House (170 - 254)
4/18 HR 624 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (288 - 127)
3/21 HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (318 - 109)
3/20 HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26)
3/07 PN 48 Nomination of John Brennan to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 34)
3/06 HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - House (267 - 151)
2/26 PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 41)
2/26 PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (71 - 27)
2/14 PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 40)
12/28 HR 5949 FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 23)
12/21 HR 4310 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 14)
12/20 HR 4310 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Report Adopted - House (315 - 107)
11/30 S Amdt 3025 Requires Sufficient Sizing of Civilian and Contract Services Workforces Amendment Rejected - Senate (41 - 53)
11/29 S Amdt 3245 Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Individuals Detained at Guantanamo Bay Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41)
11/29 S Amdt 3096 Accelerated Transition of US Military Operations to the Government of Afghanistan Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 33)
11/28 S Amdt 2985 Repeals the Limit on the Use of Funds to Procure Alternative Fuel Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 37)
11/28 S Amdt 3095 Repeals the Prohibition on Biofuel Refinery Construction Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41)
11/14 S 3414 Cybersecurity Act of 2012 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
9/13 HR 6365 National Security and Job Protection Act Bill Passed - House (223 - 196)
9/12 HR 5949 FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (301 - 118)
8/02 S 3414 Cybersecurity Act of 2012 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
7/19 HR 5856 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - House (326 - 90)
5/18 HR 4310 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 Bill Passed - House (299 - 120)
5/18 H Amdt 1127 Repeals Indefinite Military Detention Provisions Amendment Rejected - House (182 - 238)
5/18 H Amdt 1140 Prohibits Reductions to Strategic Nuclear Arms Required by New START Amendment Adopted - House (238 - 162)
5/17 H Amdt 1103 Limits Funding for War in Afghanistan to the Withdrawal of U.S. Forces Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 303)
5/10 HR 5652 Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (218 - 199)
4/26 HR 3523 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (248 - 168)
4/24 SB 1182 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
4/19 SB 1182 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Bill Passed - House (34 - 22)
12/17 HR 2055 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (67 - 32)
12/16 HR 2055 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (296 - 121)
12/15 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13)
12/14 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
12/01 S Amdt 1126 Prohibits Detention of U.S. Citizens Without Trial Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55)
12/01 S Amdt 1274 Authorizes Further Detention After Trial During Wartime Amendment Rejected - Senate (41 - 59)
12/01 S Amdt 1125 Limits New Detention Rules to Prisoners Captured Outside the U.S. Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55)
11/29 S Amdt 1107 Removes Provisions Requiring Military Custody of al-Qaeda Suspects Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 60)
11/29 S Amdt 1064 Repeals Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Amendment Rejected - Senate (30 - 67)
10/21 S Amdt 753 Prohibits the Use of Funds for Prosecution of Enemy Combatants in Civilian Courts Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
9/23 HR 2608 Stopgap Spending and Disaster Relief Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 203)
9/22 S Amdt 634 Sale of F-16 Aircraft to Taiwan Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 48)

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