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
July 8, 2003 National HR 2658 Terrorism Information Awareness bill Bill Passed - House (399 - 19)
July 8, 2003 National HR 2658 Terrorism Information Awareness bill Bill Passed - House (399 - 19)
June 24, 2003 National HR 2555 Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Bill Passed - House (425 - 2)
May 22, 2003 National S 1050 Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
May 22, 2003 National HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Bill Passed - House (361 - 68)
May 22, 2003 National S 1050 Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
May 22, 2003 National HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Bill Passed - House (361 - 68)
May 22, 2003 National S 1050 Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
April 3, 2003 National HR 1559 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 Bill Passed - House (414 - 12)
Nov. 19, 2002 National HR 5005 Establishing the Department of Homeland Security Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9)
Oct. 16, 2002 National HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 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)
Oct. 10, 2002 National HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Conference Report Adopted - House (409 - 14)
Oct. 10, 2002 National HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Conference Report Adopted - House (409 - 14)
Oct. 10, 2002 National H J Res 114 Use of Military Force Against Iraq Joint Resolution Passed - House (296 - 133)
Aug. 1, 2002 National HR 3009 Andean Trade Preference Act Extension Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34)
Aug. 1, 2002 National HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
Aug. 1, 2002 National HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
July 31, 2002 National S 812 Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 21)
July 27, 2002 National HR 3009 Andean Trade Preference Act Extension Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 212)
July 26, 2002 National HR 5005 Establishing the Department of Homeland Security Bill Passed - House (295 - 132)
July 24, 2002 National HR 4775 Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
July 23, 2002 National HR 4775 Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 32)
July 18, 2002 National HR 5011 Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
July 18, 2002 National HR 5011 Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
July 10, 2002 National HR 4635 Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act Bill Passed - House (310 - 113)
June 27, 2002 National HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - House (413 - 18)
June 27, 2002 National HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - House (413 - 18)
June 27, 2002 National HR 5011 Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - House (426 - 1)
June 27, 2002 National HR 5011 Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - House (426 - 1)
June 21, 2002 National S Amdt 3927 Military Abortion Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 40)
June 18, 2002 National S 2600 Terrorism Insurance Bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14)
May 24, 2002 National HR 4775 Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
May 10, 2002 National HR 4546 National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2003 Bill Passed - House (359 - 58)
May 10, 2002 National HR 4546 National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2003 Bill Passed - House (359 - 58)
Dec. 13, 2001 National S 1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2)
Dec. 13, 2001 National S 1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (382 - 40)
Dec. 13, 2001 National S 1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (382 - 40)
Dec. 13, 2001 National S 1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2)
Dec. 7, 2001 National S Amdt 2336 International Courts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (78 - 21)
Dec. 7, 2001 National S Amdt 2336 International Courts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (78 - 21)
Dec. 6, 2001 National HR 3005 Fast Track Trade Authority bill Bill Passed - House (215 - 214)
Nov. 16, 2001 National S 1447 Federalize Aviation Security bill Conference Report Adopted - House (410 - 9)
Oct. 25, 2001 National HR 3162 USA Patriot Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
Oct. 24, 2001 National HR 3162 USA Patriot Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (357 - 66)
Oct. 12, 2001 National HR 2975 Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (337 - 79)
Sept. 14, 2001 National H J Res 64 Authorization for Use of Military Force Joint Resolution Passed - House (420 - 1)
Sept. 14, 2001 National S J Res 23 Military Force Authorization Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
July 26, 2001 National HR 1954 Iran and Libya Sanctions Bill Passed - House (409 - 6)
Date No. Title Outcome
7/08 HR 2658 Terrorism Information Awareness bill Bill Passed - House (399 - 19)
7/08 HR 2658 Terrorism Information Awareness bill Bill Passed - House (399 - 19)
6/24 HR 2555 Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill Bill Passed - House (425 - 2)
5/22 S 1050 Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
5/22 HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Bill Passed - House (361 - 68)
5/22 S 1050 Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
5/22 HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Bill Passed - House (361 - 68)
5/22 S 1050 Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
4/03 HR 1559 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 Bill Passed - House (414 - 12)
11/19 HR 5005 Establishing the Department of Homeland Security Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9)
10/16 HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 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)
10/10 HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Conference Report Adopted - House (409 - 14)
10/10 HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Conference Report Adopted - House (409 - 14)
10/10 H J Res 114 Use of Military Force Against Iraq Joint Resolution Passed - House (296 - 133)
8/01 HR 3009 Andean Trade Preference Act Extension Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34)
8/01 HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
8/01 HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
7/31 S 812 Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 21)
7/27 HR 3009 Andean Trade Preference Act Extension Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 212)
7/26 HR 5005 Establishing the Department of Homeland Security Bill Passed - House (295 - 132)
7/24 HR 4775 Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7)
7/23 HR 4775 Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 32)
7/18 HR 5011 Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
7/18 HR 5011 Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
7/10 HR 4635 Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act Bill Passed - House (310 - 113)
6/27 HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - House (413 - 18)
6/27 HR 5010 Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - House (413 - 18)
6/27 HR 5011 Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - House (426 - 1)
6/27 HR 5011 Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Bill Passed - House (426 - 1)
6/21 S Amdt 3927 Military Abortion Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 40)
6/18 S 2600 Terrorism Insurance Bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14)
5/24 HR 4775 Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002 Bill Passed - House (280 - 138)
5/10 HR 4546 National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2003 Bill Passed - House (359 - 58)
5/10 HR 4546 National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2003 Bill Passed - House (359 - 58)
12/13 S 1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2)
12/13 S 1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (382 - 40)
12/13 S 1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (382 - 40)
12/13 S 1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2)
12/07 S Amdt 2336 International Courts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (78 - 21)
12/07 S Amdt 2336 International Courts Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (78 - 21)
12/06 HR 3005 Fast Track Trade Authority bill Bill Passed - House (215 - 214)
11/16 S 1447 Federalize Aviation Security bill Conference Report Adopted - House (410 - 9)
10/25 HR 3162 USA Patriot Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
10/24 HR 3162 USA Patriot Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (357 - 66)
10/12 HR 2975 Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (337 - 79)
9/14 H J Res 64 Authorization for Use of Military Force Joint Resolution Passed - House (420 - 1)
9/14 S J Res 23 Military Force Authorization Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (98 - 0)
7/26 HR 1954 Iran and Libya Sanctions Bill Passed - House (409 - 6)

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