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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 3, 2011 | National | H Res 292 | Ground Forces in Libya | Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145) |
| June 3, 2011 | National | H Con Res 51 | Removing Armed Forces from Libya | Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265) |
| June 3, 2011 | National | H Con Res 51 | Removing Armed Forces from Libya | Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265) |
| June 2, 2011 | AL | HB 56 | Immigration Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 7) |
| June 2, 2011 | AL | HB 56 | Immigration Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 29) |
| June 2, 2011 | National | H Amdt 406 | Transportation Security Administration Appropriations | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 204) |
| June 2, 2011 | National | H Amdt 385 | Prohibiting Funds From Being Used in Contradiction to the War Powers Resolution | Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 213) |
| June 2, 2011 | National | H Amdt 385 | Prohibiting Funds From Being Used in Contradiction to the War Powers Resolution | Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 213) |
| June 2, 2011 | National | H Amdt 398 | Prohibiting the Use of Funds for Transportation Security Administration Collective Bargaining | Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 205) |
| June 2, 2011 | National | HR 2017 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (231 - 188) |
| June 2, 2011 | National | HR 2017 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (231 - 188) |
| June 1, 2011 | CA | AB 131 | In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (50 - 27) |
| May 30, 2011 | IL | SB 2185 | Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission | Bill Passed - House (61 - 53) |
| May 28, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53) |
| May 28, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 11) |
| May 26, 2011 | National | S 990 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 153) |
| May 26, 2011 | National | S 990 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 23) |
| May 25, 2011 | SC | S 20 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (65 - 39) |
| May 24, 2011 | CT | HB 6390 | Access to Postsecondary Education | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 23, 2011 | National | S 1038 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Cloture Invoked - Senate (74 - 8) |
| May 19, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
| May 17, 2011 | TX | SB 420 | Eligibility for Indigent Health Care | Bill Passed - House (102 - 40) |
| May 12, 2011 | CT | HB 6390 | Access to Postsecondary Education | Bill Passed - House (77 - 63) |
| May 10, 2011 | TX | HB 12 | Enforcement Of State And Federal Laws Governing Immigration | Bill Passed - House (100 - 47) |
| May 5, 2011 | CA | AB 130 | Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (51 - 22) |
| May 4, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 4, 2011 | IL | SB 2185 | Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11) |
| April 21, 2011 | AL | SB 256 | Undocumented Immigrant Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate |
| April 19, 2011 | AZ | SB 1406 | Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 18, 2011 | AZ | SB 1495 | Establishment of an Arizona State Guard | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| April 18, 2011 | AZ | SB 1406 | Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence | Bill Passed - House (40 - 19) |
| April 18, 2011 | CO | SB 126 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| April 14, 2011 | GA | HB 87 | Immigration Enforcement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 59) |
| April 14, 2011 | GA | HB 87 | Immigration Enforcement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 65) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19) |
| April 11, 2011 | AZ | HB 2191 | Punitive Damage Awards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 17) |
| April 9, 2011 | National | HR 1363 | 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (348 - 70) |
| April 7, 2011 | National | HR 1363 | 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (247 - 181) |
| April 6, 2011 | AZ | HB 2191 | Punitive Damage Awards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| April 5, 2011 | AL | HB 56 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (73 - 28) |
| April 3, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (98 - 49) |
| March 29, 2011 | National | HR 839 | Terminating the Home Affordable Modification Program | Bill Passed - House (252 - 170) |
| March 29, 2011 | OR | SB 742 | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 22, 2011 | CO | HB 1140 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| March 17, 2011 | National | H Con Res 28 | Removing Troops from Afghanistan | Joint Resolution Failed - House (93 - 321) |
| March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1309 | Defines Arizona Citizenship | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |
| March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1308 | Separate Birth Certificates for Non-Citizens | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1405 | Hospital Admissions and Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1611 | Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/03 | H Res 292 | Ground Forces in Libya | Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145) |
| 6/03 | H Con Res 51 | Removing Armed Forces from Libya | Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265) |
| 6/03 | H Con Res 51 | Removing Armed Forces from Libya | Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265) |
| 6/02 | HB 56 | Immigration Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 7) |
| 6/02 | HB 56 | Immigration Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 29) |
| 6/02 | H Amdt 406 | Transportation Security Administration Appropriations | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 204) |
| 6/02 | H Amdt 385 | Prohibiting Funds From Being Used in Contradiction to the War Powers Resolution | Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 213) |
| 6/02 | H Amdt 385 | Prohibiting Funds From Being Used in Contradiction to the War Powers Resolution | Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 213) |
| 6/02 | H Amdt 398 | Prohibiting the Use of Funds for Transportation Security Administration Collective Bargaining | Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 205) |
| 6/02 | HR 2017 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (231 - 188) |
| 6/02 | HR 2017 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (231 - 188) |
| 6/01 | AB 131 | In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (50 - 27) |
| 5/30 | SB 2185 | Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission | Bill Passed - House (61 - 53) |
| 5/28 | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 53) |
| 5/28 | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 11) |
| 5/26 | S 990 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 153) |
| 5/26 | S 990 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 23) |
| 5/25 | S 20 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (65 - 39) |
| 5/24 | HB 6390 | Access to Postsecondary Education | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/23 | S 1038 | PATRIOT Act Extension | Cloture Invoked - Senate (74 - 8) |
| 5/19 | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
| 5/17 | SB 420 | Eligibility for Indigent Health Care | Bill Passed - House (102 - 40) |
| 5/12 | HB 6390 | Access to Postsecondary Education | Bill Passed - House (77 - 63) |
| 5/10 | HB 12 | Enforcement Of State And Federal Laws Governing Immigration | Bill Passed - House (100 - 47) |
| 5/05 | AB 130 | Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (51 - 22) |
| 5/04 | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 5/04 | SB 2185 | Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11) |
| 4/21 | SB 256 | Undocumented Immigrant Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate |
| 4/19 | SB 1406 | Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 4/18 | SB 1495 | Establishment of an Arizona State Guard | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| 4/18 | SB 1406 | Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence | Bill Passed - House (40 - 19) |
| 4/18 | SB 126 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 4/14 | HB 87 | Immigration Enforcement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 59) |
| 4/14 | HB 87 | Immigration Enforcement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| 4/11 | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 65) |
| 4/11 | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19) |
| 4/11 | HB 2191 | Punitive Damage Awards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 17) |
| 4/09 | HR 1363 | 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (348 - 70) |
| 4/07 | HR 1363 | 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (247 - 181) |
| 4/06 | HB 2191 | Punitive Damage Awards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 4/05 | HB 56 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (73 - 28) |
| 4/03 | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (98 - 49) |
| 3/29 | HR 839 | Terminating the Home Affordable Modification Program | Bill Passed - House (252 - 170) |
| 3/29 | SB 742 | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 3/22 | HB 1140 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| 3/17 | H Con Res 28 | Removing Troops from Afghanistan | Joint Resolution Failed - House (93 - 321) |
| 3/17 | SB 1309 | Defines Arizona Citizenship | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |
| 3/17 | SB 1308 | Separate Birth Certificates for Non-Citizens | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| 3/17 | SB 1405 | Hospital Admissions and Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| 3/17 | SB 1611 | Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |