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
June 7, 2006 National S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
June 7, 2006 National HR 5521 Legislative Branch FY 2007 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (361 - 53)
June 6, 2006 PA HB 2381 Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (136 - 61)
June 6, 2006 LA HB 194 Minimum Wage for State Employees Bill Passed - House (66 - 35)
June 1, 2006 LA SB 753 Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
June 1, 2006 CA SB 1160 Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 1, 2006 LA SB 106 Labor Unions Bill Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 26)
June 1, 2006 CA SB 1162 Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
May 31, 2006 SC H 4938 State Guard Emergency Air Wing Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15)
May 31, 2006 SC S 1267 Death Penalty for Repeat Sex Offenders Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 27)
May 31, 2006 CA AB 2378 Affordable Housing Bill Bill Passed - House (49 - 27)
May 31, 2006 CA AB 2205 Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
May 31, 2006 CA AB 2205 Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
May 31, 2006 CA AB 3029 CalWorks and Food Stamp Program Bill Passed - House (49 - 31)
May 31, 2006 CA AB 3029 CalWorks and Food Stamp Program Bill Passed - House (49 - 31)
May 31, 2006 LA SB 700 Minimum Wage Bill Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
May 31, 2006 CA AB 2555 Wage Discrimination Penalties Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
May 31, 2006 CA AB 2555 Wage Discrimination Penalties Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
May 30, 2006 NC HB 2174 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (72 - 43)
May 30, 2006 CA SB 1576 Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
May 30, 2006 MI HB 6085 Disclosure of Citizenship on Driver's License Bill Passed - House (76 - 27)
May 26, 2006 OK SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 5)
May 26, 2006 OK SB 1800 Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 8)
May 26, 2006 TN HB 3402 Tennessee Minimum Wage Act Bill Passed - House (52 - 43)
May 25, 2006 SC Amdt 3 to S 1084 Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31)
May 25, 2006 SC Amdt 3 to S 1084 Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31)
May 25, 2006 National S Amdt 4097 Confidentiality Requirement Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 49)
May 25, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
May 25, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22)
May 25, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22)
May 25, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
May 25, 2006 National S 2611 Immigration Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
May 25, 2006 CA AB 2108 Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements Bill Passed - House (44 - 30)
May 25, 2006 SC S 1084 Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (81 - 18)
May 25, 2006 CA AB 2122 Shareholder Distribution Restrictions Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
May 24, 2006 MA H 4479 MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
May 24, 2006 National S Amdt 4095 H-2C Visa Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49)
May 24, 2006 NH HB 1331 TANF Revisions Conference Report Adopted - House (182 - 121)
May 24, 2006 NH HB 1331 TANF Revisions Conference Report Adopted - House (182 - 121)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1800 Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8)
May 24, 2006 NH HB 656 "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (168 - 165)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
May 24, 2006 ME LD 1021 Police and Firefighter Insurance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
May 24, 2006 ME LD 1021 Police and Firefighter Insurance Bill Passed - House (72 - 71)
May 24, 2006 MA H 4988 Nurse Staffing Bill Bill Passed - House (133 - 20)
May 23, 2006 National S Amdt 4177 Employer Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39)
May 23, 2006 National S Amdt 4087 Orange Card Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61)
May 23, 2006 National HR 5384 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (378 - 46)
May 23, 2006 LA SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
May 23, 2006 LA SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
May 22, 2006 CA AJR 51 Endorsing Federal Amendments to Immigration Law Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 27)
May 18, 2006 MI Amend Welfare Ineligibility Extension Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 47)
May 18, 2006 MI Amend Welfare Ineligibility Extension Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 47)
May 18, 2006 MI Amend Welfare Restrictions for Drug Felonies Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 16)
May 18, 2006 MI Amend Welfare Restrictions for Drug Felonies Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 16)
May 18, 2006 MI Amend Probation and Parole Violator Welfare Restriction Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 16)
May 18, 2006 MI Amend Probation and Parole Violator Welfare Restriction Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 16)
May 18, 2006 National S Amdt 4064 English As National Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 35)
May 18, 2006 National S Amdt 4072 "State Criminal Alien Assistance Program" Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 52)
May 18, 2006 National S Amdt 4073 English as Unifying Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
May 17, 2006 National S Amdt 3965 Employment-based Immigrant Visa Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 48)
May 17, 2006 TN SB 3895 Revisions to TennCare Bill Passed - House (78 - 19)
May 17, 2006 TN SA 1505 Medical Malpractice Limits Amendment Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16)
May 17, 2006 LA HB 853 Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government Bill Failed - House (38 - 58)
May 17, 2006 LA HB 853 Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government Bill Failed - House (38 - 58)
May 16, 2006 MI HB 5633 English as the Official Language Bill Bill Passed - House (73 - 32)
May 16, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
May 16, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
May 15, 2006 CA AB 813 Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits Bill Passed - House (66 - 5)
May 15, 2006 CA AB 813 Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits Bill Passed - House (66 - 5)
May 15, 2006 LA HB 1379 Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children Bill Passed - House (58 - 35)
May 15, 2006 LA HB 1379 Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children Bill Passed - House (58 - 35)
May 12, 2006 MO SCS HCS HB 1485 Tax Credits for Donors to Pregnancy Centers and Children in Crisis Centers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (129 - 26)
May 12, 2006 MO SS2 SCS HCS HB 1456 Unemployment Compensation Changes Bill Passed - House (90 - 65)
May 11, 2006 National HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/07 S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
6/07 HR 5521 Legislative Branch FY 2007 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - House (361 - 53)
6/06 HB 2381 Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (136 - 61)
6/06 HB 194 Minimum Wage for State Employees Bill Passed - House (66 - 35)
6/01 SB 753 Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
6/01 SB 1160 Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/01 SB 106 Labor Unions Bill Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 26)
6/01 SB 1162 Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
5/31 H 4938 State Guard Emergency Air Wing Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15)
5/31 S 1267 Death Penalty for Repeat Sex Offenders Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 27)
5/31 AB 2378 Affordable Housing Bill Bill Passed - House (49 - 27)
5/31 AB 2205 Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
5/31 AB 2205 Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
5/31 AB 3029 CalWorks and Food Stamp Program Bill Passed - House (49 - 31)
5/31 AB 3029 CalWorks and Food Stamp Program Bill Passed - House (49 - 31)
5/31 SB 700 Minimum Wage Bill Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
5/31 AB 2555 Wage Discrimination Penalties Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
5/31 AB 2555 Wage Discrimination Penalties Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
5/30 HB 2174 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (72 - 43)
5/30 SB 1576 Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
5/30 HB 6085 Disclosure of Citizenship on Driver's License Bill Passed - House (76 - 27)
5/26 SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 5)
5/26 SB 1800 Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 8)
5/26 HB 3402 Tennessee Minimum Wage Act Bill Passed - House (52 - 43)
5/25 Amdt 3 to S 1084 Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31)
5/25 Amdt 3 to S 1084 Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31)
5/25 S Amdt 4097 Confidentiality Requirement Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 49)
5/25 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
5/25 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22)
5/25 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22)
5/25 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
5/25 S 2611 Immigration Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
5/25 AB 2108 Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements Bill Passed - House (44 - 30)
5/25 S 1084 Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (81 - 18)
5/25 AB 2122 Shareholder Distribution Restrictions Bill Passed - House (48 - 32)
5/24 H 4479 MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
5/24 S Amdt 4095 H-2C Visa Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49)
5/24 HB 1331 TANF Revisions Conference Report Adopted - House (182 - 121)
5/24 HB 1331 TANF Revisions Conference Report Adopted - House (182 - 121)
5/24 SB 1800 Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8)
5/24 HB 656 "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (168 - 165)
5/24 SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
5/24 LD 1021 Police and Firefighter Insurance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
5/24 LD 1021 Police and Firefighter Insurance Bill Passed - House (72 - 71)
5/24 H 4988 Nurse Staffing Bill Bill Passed - House (133 - 20)
5/23 S Amdt 4177 Employer Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39)
5/23 S Amdt 4087 Orange Card Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61)
5/23 HR 5384 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (378 - 46)
5/23 SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
5/23 SB 347 Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24)
5/22 AJR 51 Endorsing Federal Amendments to Immigration Law Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 27)
5/18 Amend Welfare Ineligibility Extension Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 47)
5/18 Amend Welfare Ineligibility Extension Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 47)
5/18 Amend Welfare Restrictions for Drug Felonies Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 16)
5/18 Amend Welfare Restrictions for Drug Felonies Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 16)
5/18 Amend Probation and Parole Violator Welfare Restriction Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 16)
5/18 Amend Probation and Parole Violator Welfare Restriction Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 16)
5/18 S Amdt 4064 English As National Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 35)
5/18 S Amdt 4072 "State Criminal Alien Assistance Program" Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 52)
5/18 S Amdt 4073 English as Unifying Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
5/17 S Amdt 3965 Employment-based Immigrant Visa Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 48)
5/17 SB 3895 Revisions to TennCare Bill Passed - House (78 - 19)
5/17 SA 1505 Medical Malpractice Limits Amendment Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16)
5/17 HB 853 Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government Bill Failed - House (38 - 58)
5/17 HB 853 Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government Bill Failed - House (38 - 58)
5/16 HB 5633 English as the Official Language Bill Bill Passed - House (73 - 32)
5/16 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
5/16 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
5/15 AB 813 Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits Bill Passed - House (66 - 5)
5/15 AB 813 Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits Bill Passed - House (66 - 5)
5/15 HB 1379 Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children Bill Passed - House (58 - 35)
5/15 HB 1379 Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children Bill Passed - House (58 - 35)
5/12 SCS HCS HB 1485 Tax Credits for Donors to Pregnancy Centers and Children in Crisis Centers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (129 - 26)
5/12 SS2 SCS HCS HB 1456 Unemployment Compensation Changes Bill Passed - House (90 - 65)
5/11 HR 4297 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)

arrow_upward