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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.

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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
July 23, 2019 National PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense (90 - 8)
July 22, 2019 National PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (85 - 6)
May 16, 2019 National PN 526 Nomination of Jeffrey Rosen to be Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice (52 - 45)
May 8, 2019 NY S 4572 Establishes Parameters for Exemptions to Presidential Pardons Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 23)
April 27, 2019 IA SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
April 11, 2019 National PN 503 Nomination of David Bernhardt as the Secretary of the Interior (56 - 41)
March 14, 2019 National H J Res 46 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
March 6, 2019 OK SB 456 Authorizes the Governor to Hire and set the Salary for the Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
March 6, 2019 OK SB 457 Authorizes the Governor to Remove Heads of Certain State Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
Feb. 14, 2019 National PN 17 Nomination of William Pelham Barr to be Attorney General of the Department of Justice (54 - 45)
Feb. 12, 2019 National PN 17 Nomination of William Pelham Barr to be Attorney General of the Department of Justice Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 44)
Dec. 5, 2018 WI SB 884 Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
July 11, 2018 National PN 1402 Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General (51 - 48)
July 10, 2018 National PN 1402 Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
April 26, 2018 OK HB 3036 Authorizes the Governor power to appoint the State Commissioner of Health Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 11)
March 9, 2018 WV HB 4006 Repeals Department of Education and Arts Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
May 11, 2017 National PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative (82 - 14)
May 11, 2017 National PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 15)
May 2, 2017 National PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (61 - 37)
May 2, 2017 WI SB 15 Expands Legislature's Regulatory Review Powers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
May 1, 2017 National PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 36)
April 27, 2017 National PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 38)
April 26, 2017 National PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39)
April 5, 2017 DE SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
Feb. 17, 2017 National PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 16, 2017 National PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
Feb. 15, 2017 National H J Res 40 Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 43)
Feb. 13, 2017 National PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
Feb. 10, 2017 National PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 10, 2017 National PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46)
Feb. 8, 2017 National PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 8, 2017 National PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
Feb. 7, 2017 National PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50)
Feb. 7, 2017 National PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 3, 2017 National PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 48)
Feb. 2, 2017 National H J Res 38 Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of the Interior Known as the Stream Protection Rule Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (54 - 45)
Feb. 1, 2017 National PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
Jan. 30, 2017 National PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
March 14, 2016 National PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
April 23, 2015 National PN 4 Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
April 6, 2015 ND HB 1181 Requires Special Election to Fill Vacant Senate Seat Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Feb. 26, 2015 MN SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
Oct. 23, 2014 NJ SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
May 16, 2014 MO HJR 72 Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 4)
April 3, 2014 FL SJR 1188 Authorizes Governor to Fill Prospective Judicial Vacancies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
Feb. 25, 2014 KY SB 82 Establishes Procedures for an Executive Cabinet Position Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 6, 2014 KY SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
Feb. 5, 2014 IL SB 1227 Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
Feb. 4, 2014 KY SB 58 Repeals the Office of the State Secretary of the Treasury Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Oct. 29, 2013 National S J Res 26 A Joint Resolution Relating to the Disapproval of the President's Exercise of Authority to Suspend the Debt Limit, as Submitted Under Section 1002(b) of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014 on October 17, 2013 Motion Rejected - Senate (45 - 54)
May 19, 2013 MN HF 1823 Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23)
May 8, 2013 AZ HB 2608 Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 22, 2013 ND HCR 3047 Establishes a Commission of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
April 18, 2013 CT HB 6648 Authorizes University Board of Regents to Appoint President of the Board Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
April 16, 2013 MT HB 13 Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
April 16, 2013 MN SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
April 5, 2013 KS HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 13)
March 27, 2013 KS HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
March 19, 2013 TX SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
March 13, 2013 KS HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2013 National PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 41)
Feb. 26, 2013 National PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (71 - 27)
Feb. 22, 2013 KY SB 40 Requires Health Care Exchanges to Be Approved by The Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 22, 2013 KY SB 39 Requires Medicaid Expansion to be Approved by the Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Feb. 14, 2013 National PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 40)
Jan. 30, 2013 KS SCR 1601 Authorizes the Governor to Nominate Judges Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
Jan. 29, 2013 WI SB 2 Limits the Secretary of State's Role in Legislation Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14)
Jan. 25, 2013 WY SF 104 Establishes the Director Position in the Department of Education Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 7, 2012 FL HB 971 Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Feb. 2, 2012 National S Amdt 1491 Requires Disclosure of Financial Transactions by Executive Branch Employees Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 41)
Feb. 2, 2012 National S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
Jan. 26, 2012 National H J Res 98 Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 54)
Sept. 9, 2011 CA SB 292 Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
June 23, 2011 National S Amdt 499 Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
April 13, 2011 AZ HB 2177 Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Presidential Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
Date No. Title Outcome
7/23 PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense (90 - 8)
7/22 PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (85 - 6)
5/16 PN 526 Nomination of Jeffrey Rosen to be Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice (52 - 45)
5/08 S 4572 Establishes Parameters for Exemptions to Presidential Pardons Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 23)
4/27 SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
4/11 PN 503 Nomination of David Bernhardt as the Secretary of the Interior (56 - 41)
3/14 H J Res 46 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
3/06 SB 456 Authorizes the Governor to Hire and set the Salary for the Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
3/06 SB 457 Authorizes the Governor to Remove Heads of Certain State Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
2/14 PN 17 Nomination of William Pelham Barr to be Attorney General of the Department of Justice (54 - 45)
2/12 PN 17 Nomination of William Pelham Barr to be Attorney General of the Department of Justice Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 44)
12/05 SB 884 Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
7/11 PN 1402 Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General (51 - 48)
7/10 PN 1402 Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
4/26 HB 3036 Authorizes the Governor power to appoint the State Commissioner of Health Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 11)
3/09 HB 4006 Repeals Department of Education and Arts Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
5/11 PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative (82 - 14)
5/11 PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 15)
5/02 PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (61 - 37)
5/02 SB 15 Expands Legislature's Regulatory Review Powers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
5/01 PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 36)
4/27 PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 38)
4/26 PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39)
4/05 SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
2/17 PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46)
2/16 PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
2/15 H J Res 40 Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 43)
2/13 PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
2/10 PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
2/10 PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46)
2/08 PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
2/08 PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
2/07 PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50)
2/07 PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
2/03 PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 48)
2/02 H J Res 38 Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of the Interior Known as the Stream Protection Rule Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (54 - 45)
2/01 PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
1/30 PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
3/14 PN 1152 Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40)
4/23 PN 4 Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
4/06 HB 1181 Requires Special Election to Fill Vacant Senate Seat Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
2/26 SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
10/23 SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
5/16 HJR 72 Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 4)
4/03 SJR 1188 Authorizes Governor to Fill Prospective Judicial Vacancies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
2/25 SB 82 Establishes Procedures for an Executive Cabinet Position Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/06 SB 1 Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
2/05 SB 1227 Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
2/04 SB 58 Repeals the Office of the State Secretary of the Treasury Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
10/29 S J Res 26 A Joint Resolution Relating to the Disapproval of the President's Exercise of Authority to Suspend the Debt Limit, as Submitted Under Section 1002(b) of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014 on October 17, 2013 Motion Rejected - Senate (45 - 54)
5/19 HF 1823 Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23)
5/08 HB 2608 Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/22 HCR 3047 Establishes a Commission of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
4/18 HB 6648 Authorizes University Board of Regents to Appoint President of the Board Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
4/16 HB 13 Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
4/16 SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
4/05 HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 13)
3/27 HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
3/19 SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
3/13 HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
2/26 PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 41)
2/26 PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (71 - 27)
2/22 SB 40 Requires Health Care Exchanges to Be Approved by The Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
2/22 SB 39 Requires Medicaid Expansion to be Approved by the Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
2/14 PN 34 Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 40)
1/30 SCR 1601 Authorizes the Governor to Nominate Judges Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
1/29 SB 2 Limits the Secretary of State's Role in Legislation Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14)
1/25 SF 104 Establishes the Director Position in the Department of Education Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/07 HB 971 Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
2/02 S Amdt 1491 Requires Disclosure of Financial Transactions by Executive Branch Employees Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 41)
2/02 S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
1/26 H J Res 98 Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 54)
9/09 SB 292 Authorizes Governor to Expedite Environmental Review Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
6/23 S Amdt 499 Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
4/13 HB 2177 Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Presidential Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
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