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
Feb. 8, 2011 National HR 514 Extension of Various USA PATRIOT Act Provisions Bill Failed - House (277 - 148)
Feb. 8, 2011 VA HB 1465 Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
Feb. 8, 2011 ND HB 1377 Children's Health Insurance Program Bill Failed - House (25 - 67)
Feb. 8, 2011 VA HB 2332 Citizenship of Arrestee Bill Passed - House (68 - 31)
Feb. 8, 2011 WY HB 204 Patriotism in the Classroom Bill Passed - House (52 - 5)
Feb. 7, 2011 AR HB 1013 Hiring of Unauthorized Workers Bill Passed - House (54 - 39)
Feb. 7, 2011 WY HB 198 Admissibility of Evidence in Sex Offense Cases Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
Feb. 7, 2011 ID HJM 1 Parental Rights Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20)
Feb. 7, 2011 SD HB 1152 Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - House (32 - 36)
Feb. 4, 2011 WV HB 2562 Legalizing Mixed Martial Arts Bill Passed - House (55 - 37)
Feb. 3, 2011 WY HB 188 Legalizes Casual Poker Games Bill Failed - House (22 - 38)
Feb. 3, 2011 UT HB 223 Innkeeper's Rights Act Modification Bill Failed - House (22 - 48)
Feb. 2, 2011 WY HB 186 Wyoming Lottery Bill Failed - House (27 - 33)
Feb. 1, 2011 VA HJ 593 Free Exercise of Religion Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 33)
Feb. 1, 2011 IA HJR 6 Banning Same Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37)
Feb. 1, 2011 ID H 26 Increment in fees for felonies and misdemeanors Bill Failed - House (31 - 35)
Jan. 27, 2011 MS SB 2179 Restrictions on Employers of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (77 - 40)
Jan. 26, 2011 WY HB 31 Electronic Wagering Bill Passed - House (36 - 22)
Jan. 26, 2011 SC H 3003 Voter ID Bill Passed - House (74 - 45)
Jan. 26, 2011 WY HB 29 Mandatory Testing for Suspected DUI Offenders Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
Jan. 25, 2011 WY HB 31 Electronic Wagering Bill Failed - House (29 - 29)
Jan. 24, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
Jan. 21, 2011 MT HB 167 Criminalizes Death to an Unborn Child Bill Passed - House (68 - 30)
Jan. 18, 2011 MT HB 71 Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Workers' Compensation Bill Passed - House (60 - 40)
Dec. 15, 2010 National HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175)
Dec. 8, 2010 National HR 5281 DREAM Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198)
Nov. 30, 2010 IL SB 1716 Authorizing Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (61 - 52)
Nov. 30, 2010 IL SB 1716 Authorizing Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (61 - 52)
Nov. 22, 2010 NJ ACR 151 Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22)
Nov. 15, 2010 PA HB 1926 Amending Self-Protection Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35)
Nov. 15, 2010 PA HB 1926 Amending Self-Protection Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35)
Oct. 5, 2010 PA HB 40 Self Defense Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (159 - 38)
Oct. 5, 2010 PA HB 40 Self Defense Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (159 - 38)
Sept. 22, 2010 National HR 3470 Infant Mortality Pilot Programs Bill Passed - House (324 - 64)
Sept. 22, 2010 National HR 3470 Infant Mortality Pilot Programs Bill Passed - House (324 - 64)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA AB 2479 Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA AB 2479 Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21)
Aug. 30, 2010 CA SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Bill Passed - House (58 - 17)
Aug. 26, 2010 CA AB 1825 Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22)
Aug. 24, 2010 CA SB 399 Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal a Sentence of Life Without Parole Bill Failed - House (34 - 38)
July 31, 2010 MA H 5000 Gambling Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (117 - 36)
July 28, 2010 National HR 5827 Exempting Guns from an Estate for Bankruptcy Purposes Bill Passed - House (307 - 113)
July 21, 2010 National HR 725 Tribal Law Enforcement Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (326 - 92)
July 10, 2010 NC HB 1403 Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21)
July 10, 2010 NC HB 1403 Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21)
July 8, 2010 NC HB 1726 Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 8)
July 7, 2010 NC HB 80 Banning Electronic Sweepstakes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 27)
July 7, 2010 NC HB 1403 Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest Bill Passed - House (93 - 20)
July 7, 2010 NC HB 1403 Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest Bill Passed - House (93 - 20)
July 1, 2010 NY S 1523 Allowing Unmarried Partners to Adopt a Child Bill Passed - House (95 - 44)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/08 HR 514 Extension of Various USA PATRIOT Act Provisions Bill Failed - House (277 - 148)
2/08 HB 1465 Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
2/08 HB 1377 Children's Health Insurance Program Bill Failed - House (25 - 67)
2/08 HB 2332 Citizenship of Arrestee Bill Passed - House (68 - 31)
2/08 HB 204 Patriotism in the Classroom Bill Passed - House (52 - 5)
2/07 HB 1013 Hiring of Unauthorized Workers Bill Passed - House (54 - 39)
2/07 HB 198 Admissibility of Evidence in Sex Offense Cases Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
2/07 HJM 1 Parental Rights Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20)
2/07 HB 1152 Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - House (32 - 36)
2/04 HB 2562 Legalizing Mixed Martial Arts Bill Passed - House (55 - 37)
2/03 HB 188 Legalizes Casual Poker Games Bill Failed - House (22 - 38)
2/03 HB 223 Innkeeper's Rights Act Modification Bill Failed - House (22 - 48)
2/02 HB 186 Wyoming Lottery Bill Failed - House (27 - 33)
2/01 HJ 593 Free Exercise of Religion Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 33)
2/01 HJR 6 Banning Same Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37)
2/01 H 26 Increment in fees for felonies and misdemeanors Bill Failed - House (31 - 35)
1/27 SB 2179 Restrictions on Employers of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (77 - 40)
1/26 HB 31 Electronic Wagering Bill Passed - House (36 - 22)
1/26 H 3003 Voter ID Bill Passed - House (74 - 45)
1/26 HB 29 Mandatory Testing for Suspected DUI Offenders Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
1/25 HB 31 Electronic Wagering Bill Failed - House (29 - 29)
1/24 HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
1/21 HB 167 Criminalizes Death to an Unborn Child Bill Passed - House (68 - 30)
1/18 HB 71 Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Workers' Compensation Bill Passed - House (60 - 40)
12/15 HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175)
12/08 HR 5281 DREAM Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198)
11/30 SB 1716 Authorizing Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (61 - 52)
11/30 SB 1716 Authorizing Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (61 - 52)
11/22 ACR 151 Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22)
11/15 HB 1926 Amending Self-Protection Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35)
11/15 HB 1926 Amending Self-Protection Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35)
10/05 HB 40 Self Defense Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (159 - 38)
10/05 HB 40 Self Defense Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (159 - 38)
9/22 HR 3470 Infant Mortality Pilot Programs Bill Passed - House (324 - 64)
9/22 HR 3470 Infant Mortality Pilot Programs Bill Passed - House (324 - 64)
8/31 AB 2479 Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21)
8/31 AB 2479 Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21)
8/30 SB 1317 Parental Crime for Chronic Truancy Bill Passed - House (58 - 17)
8/26 AB 1825 Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22)
8/24 SB 399 Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal a Sentence of Life Without Parole Bill Failed - House (34 - 38)
7/31 H 5000 Gambling Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (117 - 36)
7/28 HR 5827 Exempting Guns from an Estate for Bankruptcy Purposes Bill Passed - House (307 - 113)
7/21 HR 725 Tribal Law Enforcement Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (326 - 92)
7/10 HB 1403 Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21)
7/10 HB 1403 Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21)
7/08 HB 1726 Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 8)
7/07 HB 80 Banning Electronic Sweepstakes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 27)
7/07 HB 1403 Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest Bill Passed - House (93 - 20)
7/07 HB 1403 Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest Bill Passed - House (93 - 20)
7/01 S 1523 Allowing Unmarried Partners to Adopt a Child Bill Passed - House (95 - 44)

arrow_upward