Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5095 Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5104 Military Commissions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Sept. 13, 2006 National S Amdt 4936 National Security Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57)
Sept. 7, 2006 National S Amdt 4909 Media in the Middle East Amendment Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44)
Sept. 6, 2006 National S Amdt 4882 Cluster Munitions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (30 - 70)
June 22, 2006 National S Amdt 4442 Troop Redeployment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 86)
June 22, 2006 National S 2766 Defense Department FY 2007 Authorization bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0)
June 15, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
June 6, 2006 MI HB 5143 "Self-Defense Act" Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
May 31, 2006 SC H 4938 State Guard Emergency Air Wing Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15)
May 4, 2006 National HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21)
March 16, 2006 National S Amdt 3166 National Defense Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
Feb. 2, 2006 National S Amdt 2737 Military Funding and Tax Cuts Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
Feb. 2, 2006 National HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31)
Dec. 21, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
Dec. 21, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0)
Dec. 21, 2005 National S Con Res 74 Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45)
Nov. 15, 2005 National S Amdt 2519 Reporting Matters in Iraq Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 58)
Nov. 15, 2005 National S Amdt 2524 Guantanamo Bay Detainees Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 14)
Nov. 15, 2005 National S Amdt 2523 Judicial Review of Detainees Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54)
Nov. 15, 2005 National S Amdt 2518 Iraq Progress Reports Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 19)
Nov. 15, 2005 National S 1042 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
Nov. 10, 2005 National S Amdt 2516 Detainees at Guantanamo Bay Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 42)
Nov. 10, 2005 National S Amdt 2476 Investigating Contracts in Iraq Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
Nov. 8, 2005 National S Amdt 2430 National Commission on Detainees Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
Oct. 7, 2005 National HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
Sept. 14, 2005 National S Amdt 1670 Special Committee on Contracts in Afghanistan and Iraq Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
July 26, 2005 National S 1042 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 48)
May 10, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0)
April 28, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
April 21, 2005 National HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0)
April 18, 2005 National S Amdt 464 Future Military Funding for Iraq Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 31)
March 17, 2005 National S Con Res 18 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
July 22, 2004 National HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 0)
June 23, 2004 National S 2400 Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
Nov. 12, 2003 National HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
Oct. 17, 2003 National S 1689 Emergency Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
May 22, 2003 National S 1050 Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
Oct. 16, 2002 National HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 1)
Oct. 11, 2002 National H J Res 114 Use of Military Force Against Iraq Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (77 - 23)
Aug. 1, 2002 National HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
July 24, 2002 National HR 4775 Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
July 18, 2002 National HR 5011 Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
Dec. 13, 2001 National S 1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2)
Sept. 14, 2001 National S J Res 23 Military Force Authorization Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
May 18, 2000 National S Amdt 3154 Troop Withdrawal from Kosovo Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 47)
Oct. 13, 1999 National Treaty Doc. 105-28 Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (48 - 51)
Sept. 22, 1999 National S 1059 FY 2000 Defense Authorization Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/28 S Amdt 5095 Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
9/28 S Amdt 5104 Military Commissions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
9/28 S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
9/13 S Amdt 4936 National Security Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57)
9/07 S Amdt 4909 Media in the Middle East Amendment Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44)
9/06 S Amdt 4882 Cluster Munitions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (30 - 70)
6/22 S Amdt 4442 Troop Redeployment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 86)
6/22 S 2766 Defense Department FY 2007 Authorization bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0)
6/15 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 1)
6/06 HB 5143 "Self-Defense Act" Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
5/31 H 4938 State Guard Emergency Air Wing Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15)
5/04 HR 4939 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 21)
3/16 S Amdt 3166 National Defense Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
2/02 S Amdt 2737 Military Funding and Tax Cuts Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
2/02 HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31)
12/21 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
12/21 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0)
12/21 S Con Res 74 Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45)
11/15 S Amdt 2519 Reporting Matters in Iraq Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 58)
11/15 S Amdt 2524 Guantanamo Bay Detainees Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 14)
11/15 S Amdt 2523 Judicial Review of Detainees Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54)
11/15 S Amdt 2518 Iraq Progress Reports Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 19)
11/15 S 1042 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
11/10 S Amdt 2516 Detainees at Guantanamo Bay Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 42)
11/10 S Amdt 2476 Investigating Contracts in Iraq Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
11/08 S Amdt 2430 National Commission on Detainees Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55)
10/07 HR 2863 Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
9/14 S Amdt 1670 Special Committee on Contracts in Afghanistan and Iraq Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53)
7/26 S 1042 Defense Department FY2006 Authorization Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 48)
5/10 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (100 - 0)
4/28 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
4/21 HR 1268 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0)
4/18 S Amdt 464 Future Military Funding for Iraq Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 31)
3/17 S Con Res 18 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
7/22 HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 0)
6/23 S 2400 Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
11/12 HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
10/17 S 1689 Emergency Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
5/22 S 1050 Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
10/16 HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 1)
10/11 H J Res 114 Use of Military Force Against Iraq Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (77 - 23)
8/01 HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
7/24 HR 4775 Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
7/18 HR 5011 Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
12/13 S 1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2)
9/14 S J Res 23 Military Force Authorization Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
5/18 S Amdt 3154 Troop Withdrawal from Kosovo Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 47)
10/13 Treaty Doc. 105-28 Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (48 - 51)
9/22 S 1059 FY 2000 Defense Authorization Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)

arrow_upward