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
May 7, 2020 National S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Veto Override Failed - Senate (49 - 44)
March 11, 2020 National S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Bill Passed - House (227 - 186)
March 9, 2020 MO HJR 103 Amends the State Constitution to Create a State Department of Defense Joint Resolution Passed - House (117 - 30)
Feb. 13, 2020 National S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 45)
Jan. 30, 2020 National HR 550 No War Against Iran Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (236 - 166)
Jan. 30, 2020 National HR 550 No War Against Iran Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (228 - 175)
Jan. 9, 2020 National H Con Res 83 Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran Bill Passed - House (224 - 194)
Dec. 11, 2019 National S 1790 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 Conference Report Adopted - House (377 - 48)
Oct. 29, 2019 National HR 4695 Protect Against Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act Bill Passed - House (403 - 16)
Oct. 16, 2019 National H J Res 77 Opposing the decision to end certain United States efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria Bill Passed - House (354 - 60)
July 29, 2019 National S J Res 36 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed transfer to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Italian Republic of certain defense articles and services Veto Override Failed - Senate (45 - 40)
July 29, 2019 National S J Res 38 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of certain defense articles and services Veto Override Passed - Senate (46 - 41)
July 29, 2019 National S J Res 37 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of France of certain defense articles and services Veto Override Failed - Senate (45 - 39)
July 23, 2019 National PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense (90 - 8)
July 22, 2019 National PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (85 - 6)
July 17, 2019 National S J Res 38 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - House (237 - 190)
July 17, 2019 National S J Res 36 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed transfer to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Italian Republic of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - House (238 - 190)
July 17, 2019 National S J Res 37 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of France of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - House (238 - 190)
July 12, 2019 National HR 2500 National Defense Authorization Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 197)
June 27, 2019 National S 1790 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 8)
June 20, 2019 National S J Res 38 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 45)
June 20, 2019 National S J Res 37 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of France of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
June 20, 2019 National S J Res 36 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed transfer to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Italian Republic of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 45)
June 20, 2019 National S J Res 44 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed retransfer of certain defense articles from the United Arab Emirates to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
June 20, 2019 National S J Res 35 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the United Arab Emirates of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/07 S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Veto Override Failed - Senate (49 - 44)
3/11 S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Bill Passed - House (227 - 186)
3/09 HJR 103 Amends the State Constitution to Create a State Department of Defense Joint Resolution Passed - House (117 - 30)
2/13 S J Res 68 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 45)
1/30 HR 550 No War Against Iran Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (236 - 166)
1/30 HR 550 No War Against Iran Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (228 - 175)
1/09 H Con Res 83 Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran Bill Passed - House (224 - 194)
12/11 S 1790 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 Conference Report Adopted - House (377 - 48)
10/29 HR 4695 Protect Against Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act Bill Passed - House (403 - 16)
10/16 H J Res 77 Opposing the decision to end certain United States efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria Bill Passed - House (354 - 60)
7/29 S J Res 36 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed transfer to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Italian Republic of certain defense articles and services Veto Override Failed - Senate (45 - 40)
7/29 S J Res 38 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of certain defense articles and services Veto Override Passed - Senate (46 - 41)
7/29 S J Res 37 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of France of certain defense articles and services Veto Override Failed - Senate (45 - 39)
7/23 PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense (90 - 8)
7/22 PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (85 - 6)
7/17 S J Res 38 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - House (237 - 190)
7/17 S J Res 36 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed transfer to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Italian Republic of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - House (238 - 190)
7/17 S J Res 37 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of France of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - House (238 - 190)
7/12 HR 2500 National Defense Authorization Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 197)
6/27 S 1790 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 8)
6/20 S J Res 38 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 45)
6/20 S J Res 37 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export to the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of France of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
6/20 S J Res 36 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed transfer to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Italian Republic of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 45)
6/20 S J Res 44 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed retransfer of certain defense articles from the United Arab Emirates to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
6/20 S J Res 35 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the United Arab Emirates of certain defense articles and services Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 45)

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