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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 26, 2007 | National | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 4) |
| July 26, 2007 | National | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 4) |
| July 25, 2007 | National | HR 2929 | Ban on Permanent Bases in Iraq | Bill Passed - House (399 - 24) |
| July 19, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2351 | Sense of the Senate on Guantanamo Bay Detainees | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3) |
| July 18, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2087 | Iraq Troop Reduction | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47) |
| July 12, 2007 | National | HR 2956 | Redeployment from Iraq Act | Bill Passed - House (223 - 201) |
| July 11, 2007 | National | HR 556 | Foreign Investment Oversight | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 45) |
| July 11, 2007 | National | HR 556 | Foreign Investment Oversight | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 45) |
| June 28, 2007 | National | S 1639 | Second Immigration Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 53) |
| June 28, 2007 | CA | AB 1738 | California Gaming Code Additions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| June 27, 2007 | National | HR 1830 | Andean Trade Preference Act Extension | Bill Passed - House (365 - 59) |
| June 21, 2007 | National | H Amdt 378 | Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly School of the Americas) Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 214) |
| June 21, 2007 | National | H Amdt 378 | Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly School of the Americas) Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 214) |
| June 20, 2007 | AZ | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 11) |
| June 20, 2007 | AZ | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4) |
| June 19, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1519 | Preventing Petroleum Export Organizations (NOPEC Act of 2007) | Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 23) |
| June 15, 2007 | National | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
| June 15, 2007 | National | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
| June 7, 2007 | National | S 1348 | Immigration Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (34 - 61) |
| June 7, 2007 | NH | SB 223 | Funeral Protest Ban | Bill Passed - House (299 - 22) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1316 | Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1384 | English as the Common Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1151 | Declaring English the National Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1202 | Point Based Immigration Expiration Date | Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1184 | Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51) |
| June 6, 2007 | CA | SB 974 | Shipping Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| June 4, 2007 | CA | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 1, 2007 | CT | HB 5656 | Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| May 31, 2007 | CT | HB 7400 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| May 30, 2007 | CT | SB 1483 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| May 30, 2007 | CT | HB 7400 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - House (90 - 58) |
| May 24, 2007 | National | H Amdt 1 | Departmental Appropriations for Defense, Security, and Hurricane Recovery | Amendment Adopted - House (348 - 73) |
| May 23, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1169 | Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24) |
| May 23, 2007 | AZ | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 4) |
| May 23, 2007 | OH | Sub SB 125 | "Instant Racing Systems" Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| May 22, 2007 | National | HR 2264 | Preventing the Organization of Petroleum Export Groups | Bill Passed - House (345 - 72) |
| May 17, 2007 | National | H Amdt 197 | Guantanamo Transfer Plan | Amendment Adopted - House (220 - 208) |
| May 17, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| May 17, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 209) |
| May 17, 2007 | CT | HB 5656 | Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act | Bill Passed - House (76 - 67) |
| May 16, 2007 | MN | SF 653 | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 20) |
| May 8, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Bill Passed - House (212 - 207) |
| May 7, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1010 | FDA Drug Import Certification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 40) |
| May 4, 2007 | TX | CSHB 10 | Tribal Casino Gaming | Bill Failed - House (66 - 66) |
| May 3, 2007 | MI | Sub HB 4047 | Landfill Moratorium | Bill Passed - House (85 - 24) |
| May 2, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Veto Override Failed - House (222 - 203) |
| May 2, 2007 | AZ | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| May 2, 2007 | AZ | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| May 2, 2007 | AZ | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| May 1, 2007 | OK | SCS HB 1804 | Immigration Reform | Bill Passed - House (84 - 14) |
| April 26, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
| April 25, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 208) |
| April 25, 2007 | FL | CS HB 7189 | Kidcare Eligibility Expansion | Bill Passed - House (98 - 14) |
| April 24, 2007 | NV | SB 52 | Governor Guinn Millennium Teaching Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
| April 24, 2007 | TX | HB 218 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - House (76 - 69) |
| April 24, 2007 | NV | SB 415 | Undocumented Students and State Financial Aid Act | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| April 24, 2007 | AZ | HB 2589 | Labor Solicitation and Criminal Trespass | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| April 23, 2007 | AZ | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Bill Passed - House (34 - 21) |
| April 23, 2007 | AZ | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Bill Passed - House (34 - 21) |
| April 23, 2007 | AZ | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Bill Passed - House (34 - 21) |
| April 19, 2007 | MN | H Amendment | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Rejected - House (61 - 71) |
| April 19, 2007 | MN | SF 1989 | 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (95 - 37) |
| April 18, 2007 | IA | SF 430 | Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 34) |
| April 5, 2007 | CO | SJM | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| April 5, 2007 | CO | SJM | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| April 5, 2007 | CO | SJM 2 | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Joint Resolution Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| April 5, 2007 | CO | SJM 2 | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Joint Resolution Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| April 5, 2007 | AZ | HB 2467 | Proof of Residency for Business Licensing | Bill Passed - House (31 - 22) |
| March 29, 2007 | CO | SJM | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| March 29, 2007 | CO | SJM | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| March 29, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| March 29, 2007 | CO | SJM 2 | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| March 29, 2007 | CO | SJM 2 | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/26 | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 4) |
| 7/26 | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 4) |
| 7/25 | HR 2929 | Ban on Permanent Bases in Iraq | Bill Passed - House (399 - 24) |
| 7/19 | S Amdt 2351 | Sense of the Senate on Guantanamo Bay Detainees | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3) |
| 7/18 | S Amdt 2087 | Iraq Troop Reduction | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 7/12 | HR 2956 | Redeployment from Iraq Act | Bill Passed - House (223 - 201) |
| 7/11 | HR 556 | Foreign Investment Oversight | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 45) |
| 7/11 | HR 556 | Foreign Investment Oversight | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 45) |
| 6/28 | S 1639 | Second Immigration Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 6/28 | AB 1738 | California Gaming Code Additions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 6/27 | HR 1830 | Andean Trade Preference Act Extension | Bill Passed - House (365 - 59) |
| 6/21 | H Amdt 378 | Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly School of the Americas) Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 214) |
| 6/21 | H Amdt 378 | Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly School of the Americas) Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 214) |
| 6/20 | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 11) |
| 6/20 | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4) |
| 6/19 | S Amdt 1519 | Preventing Petroleum Export Organizations (NOPEC Act of 2007) | Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 23) |
| 6/15 | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
| 6/15 | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
| 6/07 | S 1348 | Immigration Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (34 - 61) |
| 6/07 | SB 223 | Funeral Protest Ban | Bill Passed - House (299 - 22) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1316 | Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1384 | English as the Common Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1151 | Declaring English the National Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1202 | Point Based Immigration Expiration Date | Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1184 | Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51) |
| 6/06 | SB 974 | Shipping Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 6/04 | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 6/01 | HB 5656 | Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 5/31 | HB 7400 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| 5/30 | SB 1483 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| 5/30 | HB 7400 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - House (90 - 58) |
| 5/24 | H Amdt 1 | Departmental Appropriations for Defense, Security, and Hurricane Recovery | Amendment Adopted - House (348 - 73) |
| 5/23 | S Amdt 1169 | Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24) |
| 5/23 | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 4) |
| 5/23 | Sub SB 125 | "Instant Racing Systems" Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 5/22 | HR 2264 | Preventing the Organization of Petroleum Export Groups | Bill Passed - House (345 - 72) |
| 5/17 | H Amdt 197 | Guantanamo Transfer Plan | Amendment Adopted - House (220 - 208) |
| 5/17 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| 5/17 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 209) |
| 5/17 | HB 5656 | Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act | Bill Passed - House (76 - 67) |
| 5/16 | SF 653 | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 20) |
| 5/08 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Bill Passed - House (212 - 207) |
| 5/07 | S Amdt 1010 | FDA Drug Import Certification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 40) |
| 5/04 | CSHB 10 | Tribal Casino Gaming | Bill Failed - House (66 - 66) |
| 5/03 | Sub HB 4047 | Landfill Moratorium | Bill Passed - House (85 - 24) |
| 5/02 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Veto Override Failed - House (222 - 203) |
| 5/02 | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 5/02 | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 5/02 | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 5/01 | SCS HB 1804 | Immigration Reform | Bill Passed - House (84 - 14) |
| 4/26 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
| 4/25 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 208) |
| 4/25 | CS HB 7189 | Kidcare Eligibility Expansion | Bill Passed - House (98 - 14) |
| 4/24 | SB 52 | Governor Guinn Millennium Teaching Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
| 4/24 | HB 218 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - House (76 - 69) |
| 4/24 | SB 415 | Undocumented Students and State Financial Aid Act | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| 4/24 | HB 2589 | Labor Solicitation and Criminal Trespass | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 4/23 | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Bill Passed - House (34 - 21) |
| 4/23 | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Bill Passed - House (34 - 21) |
| 4/23 | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Bill Passed - House (34 - 21) |
| 4/19 | H Amendment | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Rejected - House (61 - 71) |
| 4/19 | SF 1989 | 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (95 - 37) |
| 4/18 | SF 430 | Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 34) |
| 4/05 | SJM | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| 4/05 | SJM | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| 4/05 | SJM 2 | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Joint Resolution Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| 4/05 | SJM 2 | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Joint Resolution Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| 4/05 | HB 2467 | Proof of Residency for Business Licensing | Bill Passed - House (31 - 22) |
| 3/29 | SJM | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 3/29 | SJM | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 3/29 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| 3/29 | SJM 2 | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 3/29 | SJM 2 | Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |