Key Votes

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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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
July 26, 2007 National S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44)
July 26, 2007 National S Amdt 2480 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1)
July 26, 2007 National HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (281 - 142)
July 25, 2007 MI Sub HB 4869 Extending Boxing Regulation to Mixed Martial Arts Bill Passed - House (94 - 14)
July 25, 2007 MI HB 4870 Regulation of Unarmed Combat Bill Passed - House (93 - 13)
July 19, 2007 National S Amdt 2351 Sense of the Senate on Guantanamo Bay Detainees Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3)
July 19, 2007 NC CS SB 563 Traffic and Personal Safety Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 34)
July 19, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
July 17, 2007 National HR 980 Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers Bill Passed - House (314 - 97)
July 17, 2007 NC CS SB 563 Traffic and Personal Safety Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
July 16, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36)
July 16, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (141 - 62)
July 11, 2007 National S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
July 9, 2007 KY SCS SB 5 Public Employee Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
July 9, 2007 KY SCS SB 5 Public Employee Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
June 28, 2007 National S 1639 Second Immigration Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 53)
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 28, 2007 PA HB 1631 Funding for Local County Projects Bill Passed - House (121 - 77)
June 26, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
June 25, 2007 PA A 2062 Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21)
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 20, 2007 LA HB 320 Extension of Satellite Voting Provisions Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 21)
June 20, 2007 AZ HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6)
June 19, 2007 RI LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30)
June 19, 2007 RI LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30)
June 19, 2007 OH HB 119 2008-2009 Budget Concurrence Vote Failed - House (46 - 53)
June 19, 2007 DE HA 4 Amendment to "Child's Victim Act"; State Immunity Bill Failed - House (17 - 24)
June 19, 2007 NY A 8590 Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (85 - 61)
June 19, 2007 RI H 5127 Mandatory Minimum Drug Possession Sentence Repeal Bill Passed - House (54 - 6)
June 19, 2007 RI H 5127 Mandatory Minimum Drug Possession Sentence Repeal Bill Passed - House (54 - 6)
June 19, 2007 NY A 8590 Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (85 - 61)
June 19, 2007 DE HA 4 Amendment to "Child's Victim Act"; State Immunity Bill Failed - House (17 - 24)
June 18, 2007 OR SB 571 Smoking Ban Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
June 18, 2007 OR SB 863 Regulating Automated Phone Calls Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
June 15, 2007 RI Article 22 of H5300A Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19)
June 15, 2007 RI Article 22 of H5300A Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19)
June 15, 2007 ME LD 701 Slot Machine Authorization Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
June 15, 2007 OR SB 571 Smoking Ban Expansion Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
June 15, 2007 ME LD 701 Slot Machine Authorization Bill Passed - House (101 - 38)
June 14, 2007 DE HB 175 Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3)
June 14, 2007 DE HB 175 Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3)
June 14, 2007 DE HB 175 Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
June 14, 2007 OR HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
June 14, 2007 MA S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
June 13, 2007 LA HB 747 Restrictions on All-Terrain Vehicle Use Bill Failed - House (50 - 50)
June 12, 2007 OR HB 2967 Tobacco Tax Increase for Children’s Health Care Bill Failed - House (35 - 22)
June 11, 2007 National S J Res 14 Attorney General No Confidence Vote Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 38)
June 11, 2007 OR SB 392 Mandatory School Age Bill Failed - House (22 - 33)
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 7, 2007 National S 5 Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (247 - 176)
June 7, 2007 NH HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 7 Marco Firebaugh Memorial Children’s Health and Safety Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
June 7, 2007 LA HB 786 Teenage Driver Passenger Limit Bill Failed - House (38 - 60)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 7 Marco Firebaugh Memorial Children’s Health and Safety Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
June 7, 2007 LA HB 786 Teenage Driver Passenger Limit Bill Failed - House (38 - 60)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 7, 2007 CA AB 8 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility Bill Passed - House (47 - 32)
June 6, 2007 ME LD 203 Student Voter Registration Bill "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (90 - 49)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1184 Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1384 English as the Common Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
June 6, 2007 SC H 3964 Concealed Firearms in Schools Motion Agreed - House (47 - 41)
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 1151 Declaring English the National Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33)
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 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)
Date No. Title Outcome
7/26 S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44)
7/26 S Amdt 2480 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1)
7/26 HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (281 - 142)
7/25 Sub HB 4869 Extending Boxing Regulation to Mixed Martial Arts Bill Passed - House (94 - 14)
7/25 HB 4870 Regulation of Unarmed Combat Bill Passed - House (93 - 13)
7/19 S Amdt 2351 Sense of the Senate on Guantanamo Bay Detainees Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3)
7/19 CS SB 563 Traffic and Personal Safety Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 34)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
7/17 HR 980 Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers Bill Passed - House (314 - 97)
7/17 CS SB 563 Traffic and Personal Safety Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
7/16 SB 246 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36)
7/16 SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (141 - 62)
7/11 S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
7/09 SCS SB 5 Public Employee Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
7/09 SCS SB 5 Public Employee Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
6/28 S 1639 Second Immigration Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 53)
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)
6/28 HB 1631 Funding for Local County Projects Bill Passed - House (121 - 77)
6/26 SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
6/25 A 2062 Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21)
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)
6/20 HB 320 Extension of Satellite Voting Provisions Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 21)
6/20 HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6)
6/19 LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30)
6/19 LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30)
6/19 HB 119 2008-2009 Budget Concurrence Vote Failed - House (46 - 53)
6/19 HA 4 Amendment to "Child's Victim Act"; State Immunity Bill Failed - House (17 - 24)
6/19 A 8590 Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (85 - 61)
6/19 H 5127 Mandatory Minimum Drug Possession Sentence Repeal Bill Passed - House (54 - 6)
6/19 H 5127 Mandatory Minimum Drug Possession Sentence Repeal Bill Passed - House (54 - 6)
6/19 A 8590 Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (85 - 61)
6/19 HA 4 Amendment to "Child's Victim Act"; State Immunity Bill Failed - House (17 - 24)
6/18 SB 571 Smoking Ban Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
6/18 SB 863 Regulating Automated Phone Calls Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
6/15 Article 22 of H5300A Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19)
6/15 Article 22 of H5300A Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19)
6/15 LD 701 Slot Machine Authorization Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
6/15 SB 571 Smoking Ban Expansion Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
6/15 LD 701 Slot Machine Authorization Bill Passed - House (101 - 38)
6/14 HB 175 Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3)
6/14 HB 175 Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3)
6/14 HB 175 Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
6/14 HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - House (40 - 117)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
6/14 S 2220 Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34)
6/13 HB 747 Restrictions on All-Terrain Vehicle Use Bill Failed - House (50 - 50)
6/12 HB 2967 Tobacco Tax Increase for Children’s Health Care Bill Failed - House (35 - 22)
6/11 S J Res 14 Attorney General No Confidence Vote Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 38)
6/11 SB 392 Mandatory School Age Bill Failed - House (22 - 33)
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)
6/07 S 5 Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (247 - 176)
6/07 HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9)
6/07 SB 7 Marco Firebaugh Memorial Children’s Health and Safety Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
6/07 HB 786 Teenage Driver Passenger Limit Bill Failed - House (38 - 60)
6/07 SB 7 Marco Firebaugh Memorial Children’s Health and Safety Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
6/07 HB 786 Teenage Driver Passenger Limit Bill Failed - House (38 - 60)
6/07 SB 48 Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
6/07 SB 32 Children's Health Care Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/07 AB 8 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility Bill Passed - House (47 - 32)
6/06 LD 203 Student Voter Registration Bill "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (90 - 49)
6/06 S Amdt 1184 Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51)
6/06 S Amdt 1384 English as the Common Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
6/06 H 3964 Concealed Firearms in Schools Motion Agreed - House (47 - 41)
6/06 S Amdt 1316 Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
6/06 S Amdt 1151 Declaring English the National Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33)
6/06 S Amdt 1250 Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39)
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)

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