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. 14, 1995 National S Amdt 2478 Naturalized Citizen Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61)
Sept. 6, 1995 National HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34)
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 26, 1995 National S 21 Bosnia and Herzegovina Self-Defense Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
July 21, 1995 National HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 10)
June 7, 1995 National S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
June 7, 1995 National S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
June 6, 1995 National S Amdt 1215 Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
Dec. 1, 1994 National HR 5110 Uruguay Round Agreements Act Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 24)
Dec. 1, 1994 National HR 5110 Uruguay Round Agreements Act Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 24)
Sept. 13, 1994 National S 2182 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 18)
Sept. 13, 1994 National S 2182 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 18)
Aug. 11, 1994 National HR 4650 Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
Aug. 11, 1994 National HR 4650 Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
Aug. 10, 1994 National HR 4426 Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 12)
Aug. 10, 1994 National HR 4426 Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 12)
Aug. 10, 1994 National HR 4453 Military Construction FY95 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 5)
July 15, 1994 National HR 4426 Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9)
July 15, 1994 National HR 4426 Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9)
July 15, 1994 National HR 4453 Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 2)
July 14, 1994 National S Amdt 2245 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 42)
July 14, 1994 National S Amdt 2245 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 42)
July 1, 1994 National S Amdt 2142 B-2 Bomber Funding Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55)
July 1, 1994 National S Amdt 1851 Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
June 29, 1994 National S Amdt 2117 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65)
June 29, 1994 National S Amdt 2117 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65)
May 25, 1994 National PN 898 Sam W. Brown, Jr., Ambassador to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
May 12, 1994 National S Amdt 1696 Bosnia-Herzegovina Policy Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49)
May 12, 1994 National S Amdt 1695 Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49)
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)
April 19, 1994 National PN 1210 Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43)
March 16, 1994 National HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40)
Feb. 2, 1994 National HR 2333 State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8)
Feb. 2, 1994 National HR 2333 State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8)
Jan. 27, 1994 National S Amdt 1263 Vietnam Trade Embargo Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
Nov. 20, 1993 National HR 3450 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
Nov. 10, 1993 National HR 3116 Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9)
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. 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)
Oct. 15, 1993 National S Amdt 1043 Ending Military Operations in Somalia Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38)
Oct. 15, 1993 National S Amdt 1043 Ending Military Operations in Somalia Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38)
Sept. 30, 1993 National HR 2295 Foreign Operations FY94 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11)
Sept. 23, 1993 National HR 2295 Foreign Operations FY94 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (88 - 10)
Sept. 22, 1993 National HR 2491 Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9)
Sept. 10, 1993 National S Amdt 816 Postponement of Base Closures Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 79)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/14 S Amdt 2478 Naturalized Citizen Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61)
9/06 HR 1530 Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34)
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)
7/26 S 21 Bosnia and Herzegovina Self-Defense Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
7/21 HR 1817 Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 10)
6/07 S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
6/07 S 735 Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 8)
6/06 S Amdt 1215 Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
12/01 HR 5110 Uruguay Round Agreements Act Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 24)
12/01 HR 5110 Uruguay Round Agreements Act Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 24)
9/13 S 2182 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 18)
9/13 S 2182 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (80 - 18)
8/11 HR 4650 Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
8/11 HR 4650 Defense FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
8/10 HR 4426 Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 12)
8/10 HR 4426 Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 12)
8/10 HR 4453 Military Construction FY95 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 5)
7/15 HR 4426 Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9)
7/15 HR 4426 Foreign Operations FY95 Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9)
7/15 HR 4453 Military Construction FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 2)
7/14 S Amdt 2245 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 42)
7/14 S Amdt 2245 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 42)
7/01 S Amdt 2142 B-2 Bomber Funding Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55)
7/01 S Amdt 1851 Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
6/29 S Amdt 2117 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65)
6/29 S Amdt 2117 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65)
5/25 PN 898 Sam W. Brown, Jr., Ambassador to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
5/12 S Amdt 1696 Bosnia-Herzegovina Policy Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49)
5/12 S Amdt 1695 Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49)
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)
4/19 PN 1210 Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, Retiring Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43)
3/16 HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40)
2/02 HR 2333 State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8)
2/02 HR 2333 State Department FY94-95 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8)
1/27 S Amdt 1263 Vietnam Trade Embargo Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
11/20 HR 3450 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
11/10 HR 3116 Defense Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 9)
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)
10/21 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)
10/15 S Amdt 1043 Ending Military Operations in Somalia Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38)
10/15 S Amdt 1043 Ending Military Operations in Somalia Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 38)
9/30 HR 2295 Foreign Operations FY94 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11)
9/23 HR 2295 Foreign Operations FY94 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (88 - 10)
9/22 HR 2491 Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9)
9/10 S Amdt 816 Postponement of Base Closures Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 79)

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