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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 7, 2008 | CO | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 7) |
| March 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| March 6, 2008 | AZ | HB 2043 | State Government Hiring Freeze | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 5, 2008 | ID | HCR 49 | State Employee Pay Raise | Resolution Passed - House (51 - 19) |
| March 5, 2008 | SC | H 4620 | Expanding Governor's Appointment Power | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24) |
| March 4, 2008 | MD | HB 362 | Department of Information Technology | Bill Passed - House (105 - 31) |
| Feb. 29, 2008 | UT | HB 75 | State Inventory of Government Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | MN | GN Molnau | Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner | Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44) |
| Feb. 26, 2008 | SD | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Feb. 26, 2008 | KY | SB 14 | Non-Partisan Public Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Feb. 20, 2008 | AZ | HB 2043 | State Government Hiring Freeze | Bill Passed - House (40 - 15) |
| Feb. 19, 2008 | CA | GN Borucki | Confirmation of Joan Borucki as State Lottery Director | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| Feb. 15, 2008 | UT | HB 75 | State Inventory of Government Activities | Bill Passed - House (54 - 17) |
| Feb. 15, 2008 | LA | Amnd. 423 to SB 1 | Persons Restricted from Doing Business with the State | Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | SD | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Feb. 7, 2008 | MA | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | MA | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - House (135 - 19) |
| Jan. 30, 2008 | CO | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Bill Passed - House (59 - 5) |
| Jan. 25, 2008 | MS | SB 2188 | Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| Jan. 15, 2008 | WI | SJR 5 | Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 1) |
| Dec. 11, 2007 | WI | SJR 5 | Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| Nov. 19, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 33) |
| Nov. 19, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| Nov. 13, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (103 - 36) |
| Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25) |
| Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Oct. 30, 2007 | WI | SB 15 | Secretary of Natural Resources Appointment | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Oct. 11, 2007 | MA | H 4282 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (126 - 18) |
| May 22, 2007 | National | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 114) |
| May 21, 2007 | TN | SJR 139 | Popular Election of Statewide Officers | Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 9, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. 2c | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 19) |
| April 25, 2007 | VT | HR. 18 | Urging National Executive Impeachment | Resolution Failed - House (60 - 87) |
| April 20, 2007 | VT | SR 16 | Urging National Executive Impeachment | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 9) |
| April 5, 2007 | SC | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| March 27, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. 23 | Remove the Transportation Commission | Amendment Tabled - House (71 - 36) |
| March 21, 2007 | NH | CACR 11 | Governor Term Increase | Resolution Failed - House (185 - 168) |
| March 21, 2007 | TX | HJR 59 | Extending Veto Override Time Frame | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 29) |
| March 20, 2007 | National | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
| March 20, 2007 | GA | SB 174 | Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1) |
| Feb. 22, 2007 | KS | Sub SB 152 | Elections for Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Feb. 20, 2007 | IN | HB 1009 | Review of State Privatization Contracts | Bill Passed - House (52 - 45) |
| Feb. 15, 2007 | KY | HB 3 | Restrictions on Governor Pardons | Amendment Adopted - House (71 - 26) |
| Feb. 7, 2007 | IN | HB 1262 | BMV Commission Elimination | Bill Passed - House (51 - 49) |
| Feb. 1, 2007 | WI | AJR 1 | Partial Veto by Alteration Ban | Joint Resolution Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 287 | The Appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 285 | The Appointment of the Comptroller General | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 288 | Appointment of the Secretary of State | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 284 | The Appointment of the Adjutant General | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 286 | Appointment of the Superintendent of Education | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 19) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 101 | Reorganization of the State Government | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 23) |
| Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5104 | Military Commissions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52) |
| June 23, 2006 | RI | H 6885 | International Trade Agreements | Veto Override Passed - House (49 - 15) |
| June 23, 2006 | RI | H 6885 | International Trade Agreements | Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| June 22, 2006 | National | HR 4890 | Line Item Veto Bill | Bill Passed - House (247 - 172) |
| March 9, 2006 | AZ | HB 2701 | National Guard Mobilization; Border; Appropriation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 21) |
| March 8, 2006 | MS | SB 2400 | Salary Fixes for Certain Elected State and District Officials | Bill Passed - House (78 - 40) |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | Amendment | LeBlanc Nomination | Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 42) |
| March 7, 2006 | AZ | HB 2701 | National Guard Mobilization; Border; Appropriation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | HB 638 | Executive Branch Salaries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 55) |
| Jan. 26, 2005 | National | PN 8 | Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (85 - 13) |
| Nov. 19, 2002 | National | HR 5005 | Establishing the Department of Homeland Security | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9) |
| July 26, 2002 | National | HR 5005 | Establishing the Department of Homeland Security | Bill Passed - House (295 - 132) |
| Feb. 1, 2001 | National | PN 107 | John Ashcroft, Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42) |
| Jan. 30, 2001 | National | PN 96 | Gale Ann Norton, Secretary of the Interior | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (75 - 24) |
| Sept. 14, 1999 | National | S J Res 33 | Puerto Rican Nationals resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (95 - 2) |
| Sept. 9, 1999 | National | H Con Res 180 | Puerto Rican Nationals resolution | Resolution Passed - House (311 - 41) |
| Aug. 5, 1999 | National | PN 100 | Richard Holbrooke, Representative to the United Nations | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (81 - 16) |
| Feb. 12, 1999 | National | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - Senate (45 - 55) |
| Feb. 12, 1999 | National | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - Senate (50 - 50) |
| Dec. 19, 1998 | National | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - House (148 - 285) |
| Dec. 19, 1998 | National | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Passed - House (221 - 212) |
| Dec. 19, 1998 | National | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - House (205 - 229) |
| Dec. 19, 1998 | National | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Passed - House (228 - 206) |
| Sept. 25, 1998 | National | HR 2621 | Reciprocal Trade Agreement Bill | Bill Failed - House (180 - 243) |
| June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/07 | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 7) |
| 3/06 | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 3/06 | HB 2043 | State Government Hiring Freeze | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 3/05 | HCR 49 | State Employee Pay Raise | Resolution Passed - House (51 - 19) |
| 3/05 | H 4620 | Expanding Governor's Appointment Power | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24) |
| 3/04 | HB 362 | Department of Information Technology | Bill Passed - House (105 - 31) |
| 2/29 | HB 75 | State Inventory of Government Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6) |
| 2/28 | GN Molnau | Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner | Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44) |
| 2/26 | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 2/26 | SB 14 | Non-Partisan Public Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 2/20 | HB 2043 | State Government Hiring Freeze | Bill Passed - House (40 - 15) |
| 2/19 | GN Borucki | Confirmation of Joan Borucki as State Lottery Director | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| 2/15 | HB 75 | State Inventory of Government Activities | Bill Passed - House (54 - 17) |
| 2/15 | Amnd. 423 to SB 1 | Persons Restricted from Doing Business with the State | Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 2/13 | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| 2/07 | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
| 2/06 | H 4488 | Education Reorganization | Bill Passed - House (135 - 19) |
| 1/30 | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Bill Passed - House (59 - 5) |
| 1/25 | SB 2188 | Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| 1/15 | SJR 5 | Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 1) |
| 12/11 | SJR 5 | Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| 11/19 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 33) |
| 11/19 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| 11/13 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (103 - 36) |
| 10/31 | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 25) |
| 10/31 | SB 229 | 2007-2008 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 10/30 | SB 15 | Secretary of Natural Resources Appointment | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 10/11 | H 4282 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (126 - 18) |
| 5/22 | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 114) |
| 5/21 | SJR 139 | Popular Election of Statewide Officers | Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 5/09 | Amendment No. 2c | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 19) |
| 4/25 | HR. 18 | Urging National Executive Impeachment | Resolution Failed - House (60 - 87) |
| 4/20 | SR 16 | Urging National Executive Impeachment | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 9) |
| 4/05 | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 3/27 | Amendment No. 23 | Remove the Transportation Commission | Amendment Tabled - House (71 - 36) |
| 3/21 | CACR 11 | Governor Term Increase | Resolution Failed - House (185 - 168) |
| 3/21 | HJR 59 | Extending Veto Override Time Frame | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 29) |
| 3/20 | S 214 | United States Attorneys Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2) |
| 3/20 | SB 174 | Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1) |
| 2/22 | Sub SB 152 | Elections for Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 2/20 | HB 1009 | Review of State Privatization Contracts | Bill Passed - House (52 - 45) |
| 2/15 | HB 3 | Restrictions on Governor Pardons | Amendment Adopted - House (71 - 26) |
| 2/07 | HB 1262 | BMV Commission Elimination | Bill Passed - House (51 - 49) |
| 2/01 | AJR 1 | Partial Veto by Alteration Ban | Joint Resolution Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| 1/24 | S 287 | The Appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| 1/24 | S 285 | The Appointment of the Comptroller General | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 1/24 | S 288 | Appointment of the Secretary of State | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| 1/24 | S 284 | The Appointment of the Adjutant General | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 1/24 | S 286 | Appointment of the Superintendent of Education | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 19) |
| 1/24 | S 101 | Reorganization of the State Government | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 23) |
| 9/28 | S Amdt 5104 | Military Commissions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52) |
| 6/23 | H 6885 | International Trade Agreements | Veto Override Passed - House (49 - 15) |
| 6/23 | H 6885 | International Trade Agreements | Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 6/22 | HR 4890 | Line Item Veto Bill | Bill Passed - House (247 - 172) |
| 3/09 | HB 2701 | National Guard Mobilization; Border; Appropriation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 21) |
| 3/08 | SB 2400 | Salary Fixes for Certain Elected State and District Officials | Bill Passed - House (78 - 40) |
| 3/07 | Amendment | LeBlanc Nomination | Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 42) |
| 3/07 | HB 2701 | National Guard Mobilization; Border; Appropriation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 2/09 | HB 638 | Executive Branch Salaries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 55) |
| 1/26 | PN 8 | Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (85 - 13) |
| 11/19 | HR 5005 | Establishing the Department of Homeland Security | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9) |
| 7/26 | HR 5005 | Establishing the Department of Homeland Security | Bill Passed - House (295 - 132) |
| 2/01 | PN 107 | John Ashcroft, Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42) |
| 1/30 | PN 96 | Gale Ann Norton, Secretary of the Interior | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (75 - 24) |
| 9/14 | S J Res 33 | Puerto Rican Nationals resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (95 - 2) |
| 9/09 | H Con Res 180 | Puerto Rican Nationals resolution | Resolution Passed - House (311 - 41) |
| 8/05 | PN 100 | Richard Holbrooke, Representative to the United Nations | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (81 - 16) |
| 2/12 | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - Senate (45 - 55) |
| 2/12 | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 12/19 | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - House (148 - 285) |
| 12/19 | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Passed - House (221 - 212) |
| 12/19 | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Failed - House (205 - 229) |
| 12/19 | H Res 611 | Impeachment Resolution: Article One | Resolution Passed - House (228 - 206) |
| 9/25 | HR 2621 | Reciprocal Trade Agreement Bill | Bill Failed - House (180 - 243) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |