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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 23, 2004 | National | S 2400 | Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0) |
| June 22, 2004 | National | HR 4613 | Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (403 - 17) |
| May 21, 2004 | National | S Res 356 | Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners | Resolution Passed - Senate (92 - 0) |
| May 20, 2004 | National | HR 4359 | Child Credit Preservation and Expansion Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (271 - 139) |
| May 6, 2004 | National | H Res 627 | Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners | Resolution Passed - House (365 - 50) |
| Nov. 7, 2003 | National | HR 1588 | Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (362 - 40) |
| Oct. 17, 2003 | National | S 1689 | Emergency Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| Sept. 24, 2003 | National | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (407 - 15) |
| July 8, 2003 | National | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Bill Passed - House (399 - 19) |
| 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) |
| Oct. 16, 2002 | National | HR 5010 | Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 1) |
| Oct. 10, 2002 | National | HR 5010 | Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (409 - 14) |
| Aug. 1, 2002 | National | HR 5010 | Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 | Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3) |
| July 18, 2002 | National | HR 5011 | Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3) |
| 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 21, 2002 | National | S Amdt 3927 | Military Abortion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| 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 - 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) |
| June 20, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3252 | Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 49) |
| May 18, 2000 | National | H Amdt 722 | Oversea Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 221) |
| Sept. 22, 1999 | National | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| June 30, 1999 | National | S 1234 | Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| May 27, 1999 | National | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| April 28, 1999 | National | H Con Res 82 | Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from the Balkans resolution | Resolution Failed - House (139 - 290) |
| Oct. 1, 1998 | National | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
| Sept. 29, 1998 | National | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 2) |
| Sept. 28, 1998 | National | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (369 - 43) |
| Sept. 24, 1998 | National | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (373 - 50) |
| June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3011 | Separate Housing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 53) |
| June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2794 | Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49) |
| June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
| June 24, 1998 | National | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (358 - 61) |
| June 22, 1998 | National | HR 4059 | Military Construction FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (396 - 10) |
| May 21, 1998 | National | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (357 - 60) |
| May 20, 1998 | National | H Amdt 643 | Abortion Private Funding Restoration Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 232) |
| Nov. 6, 1997 | National | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 10) |
| Oct. 28, 1997 | National | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 123) |
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| July 29, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| June 25, 1997 | National | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (304 - 120) |
| June 24, 1997 | National | H Amdt 204 | Bosnia Deployment Extension Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 231) |
| June 24, 1997 | National | H Amdt 203 | Bosnia Deployment Termination Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (278 - 148) |
| June 23, 1997 | National | H Amdt 192 | Border Defense Personnel Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119) |
| June 19, 1997 | National | H Amdt 187 | Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 224) |
| Sept. 10, 1996 | National | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/23 | S 2400 | Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0) |
| 6/22 | HR 4613 | Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (403 - 17) |
| 5/21 | S Res 356 | Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners | Resolution Passed - Senate (92 - 0) |
| 5/20 | HR 4359 | Child Credit Preservation and Expansion Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (271 - 139) |
| 5/06 | H Res 627 | Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners | Resolution Passed - House (365 - 50) |
| 11/07 | HR 1588 | Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (362 - 40) |
| 10/17 | S 1689 | Emergency Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| 9/24 | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (407 - 15) |
| 7/08 | HR 2658 | Terrorism Information Awareness bill | Bill Passed - House (399 - 19) |
| 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) |
| 10/16 | HR 5010 | Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 1) |
| 10/10 | HR 5010 | Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (409 - 14) |
| 8/01 | HR 5010 | Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2003 | Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3) |
| 7/18 | HR 5011 | Military Construction Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2003 | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3) |
| 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) |
| 6/21 | S Amdt 3927 | Military Abortion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| 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 - 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) |
| 6/20 | S Amdt 3252 | Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 5/18 | H Amdt 722 | Oversea Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 221) |
| 9/22 | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| 6/30 | S 1234 | Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| 5/27 | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| 4/28 | H Con Res 82 | Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from the Balkans resolution | Resolution Failed - House (139 - 290) |
| 10/01 | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
| 9/29 | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 2) |
| 9/28 | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (369 - 43) |
| 9/24 | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (373 - 50) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 3011 | Separate Housing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 53) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 2794 | Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
| 6/24 | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (358 - 61) |
| 6/22 | HR 4059 | Military Construction FY99 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (396 - 10) |
| 5/21 | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (357 - 60) |
| 5/20 | H Amdt 643 | Abortion Private Funding Restoration Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 232) |
| 11/06 | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 10) |
| 10/28 | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 123) |
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| 7/29 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| 6/25 | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (304 - 120) |
| 6/24 | H Amdt 204 | Bosnia Deployment Extension Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 231) |
| 6/24 | H Amdt 203 | Bosnia Deployment Termination Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (278 - 148) |
| 6/23 | H Amdt 192 | Border Defense Personnel Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119) |
| 6/19 | H Amdt 187 | Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 224) |
| 9/10 | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26) |