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
June 24, 1997 National H J Res 79 China Most-Favored-Nation Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (173 - 259)
June 23, 1997 National H Amdt 192 Border Defense Personnel Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119)
June 23, 1997 National H Amdt 198 B-2 Bomber Program Termination Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 216)
June 19, 1997 National H Amdt 187 Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 224)
June 19, 1997 National S Amdt 416 Intelligence Appropriations Declassification amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
June 12, 1997 National HR 1871 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 21)
June 12, 1997 National H J Res 54 Flag Desecration Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (310 - 114)
June 12, 1997 National HR 1871 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (348 - 74)
June 5, 1997 National HR 1469 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 201)
June 5, 1997 National HR 1469 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (67 - 31)
June 5, 1997 National H Con Res 84 Budget Resolution FY1999-2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (327 - 97)
June 5, 1997 National H Con Res 84 Budget Resolution FY1999-2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
June 4, 1997 National H Amdt 138 U.S. Withdrawal from the U.N. Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 369)
May 23, 1997 National S Amdt 357 Violent Crime Victims Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
May 23, 1997 National H Con Res 84 Budget Resolution FY1999-2000 Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
May 22, 1997 National S Amdt 301 Budget Deficit Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 47)
May 21, 1997 National H Con Res 84 Budget Resolution FY1999-2000 Resolution Passed - House (333 - 99)
May 20, 1997 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 36)
May 16, 1997 National HR 1385 Training Programs bill Bill Passed - House (343 - 60)
May 15, 1997 National HR 1469 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (244 - 178)
May 14, 1997 National HR 2 Public Housing bill Bill Passed - House (293 - 132)
May 8, 1997 National HR 3 Juvenile Crime bill Bill Passed - House (286 - 132)
May 7, 1997 National H Amdt 71 Endangered Species Act Exemption Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 196)
April 30, 1997 National PN 82 Alexis M. Herman, Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (85 - 13)
April 24, 1997 National S Res 75 Chemical Weapons Convention bill Resolution Passed - Senate (74 - 26)
April 17, 1997 National S 495 Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction Act Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 44)
April 16, 1997 National HR 1003 Assisted Suicide Bill Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0)
April 15, 1997 National S Amdt 31 Yucca Mountain Alternate Sites amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39)
April 15, 1997 National S 104 Nuclear Waste Disposal bill Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
April 10, 1997 National HR 1003 Assisted Suicide Bill Bill Passed - House (398 - 16)
March 20, 1997 National S Amdt 25 U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
March 20, 1997 National HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - House (295 - 136)
March 19, 1997 National HR 1 Compensatory Time Bill Bill Passed - House (222 - 210)
March 12, 1997 National H Res 89 Balanced Budget Request resolution Resolution Passed - House (231 - 197)
March 5, 1997 National H Con Res 31 Display of the Ten Commandments Resolution Passed - House (295 - 125)
March 4, 1997 National S J Res 1 Balanced Budget amendment Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (66 - 34)
Feb. 13, 1997 National HR 581 Population Planning Bill Bill Passed - House (231 - 194)
Feb. 12, 1997 National H J Res 2 Term Limits Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (217 - 211)
Jan. 21, 1997 National H Res 31 Ethics Report on Newt Gingrich Resolution Passed - House (395 - 28)
Oct. 3, 1996 National HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
Sept. 28, 1996 National HR 3610 Omnibus FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (370 - 37)
Sept. 27, 1996 National HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 198)
Sept. 26, 1996 National HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Failed - Senate (58 - 40)
Sept. 25, 1996 National HR 2202 Immigration Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - House (305 - 123)
Sept. 24, 1996 National HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (388 - 25)
Sept. 19, 1996 National HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Passed - House (285 - 137)
Sept. 17, 1996 National S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
Sept. 17, 1996 National HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
Sept. 12, 1996 National HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - House (383 - 29)
Sept. 10, 1996 National HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26)
Sept. 10, 1996 National S 2056 Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50)
Sept. 10, 1996 National HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
Aug. 2, 1996 National S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - House (392 - 30)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
Aug. 2, 1996 National S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
Aug. 2, 1996 National HR 3953 Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (389 - 22)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - House (285 - 132)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 21)
Aug. 1, 1996 National HR 123 English as the National Language Bill Passed - House (259 - 169)
July 31, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - House (328 - 101)
July 31, 1996 National S 1936 Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37)
July 30, 1996 National HR 2391 Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
July 25, 1996 National H Amdt 1360 Renewable Energy Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135)
July 25, 1996 National H Amdt 1359 Energy Research Appropriation Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 211)
July 25, 1996 National HR 3820 Campaign Finance Reform Bill Failed - House (162 - 259)
July 24, 1996 National H Amdt 1356 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 236)
July 23, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
July 22, 1996 National H Amdt 1309 Non-Federally Funded Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 223)
July 18, 1996 National H Amdt 1307 Food Stamp Recipient Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 184)
July 18, 1996 National HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (256 - 170)
July 12, 1996 National H Amdt 1286 Definition of Marriage Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311)
July 12, 1996 National H Amdt 1280 Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/24 H J Res 79 China Most-Favored-Nation Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (173 - 259)
6/23 H Amdt 192 Border Defense Personnel Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119)
6/23 H Amdt 198 B-2 Bomber Program Termination Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 216)
6/19 H Amdt 187 Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 224)
6/19 S Amdt 416 Intelligence Appropriations Declassification amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
6/12 HR 1871 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 21)
6/12 H J Res 54 Flag Desecration Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (310 - 114)
6/12 HR 1871 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (348 - 74)
6/05 HR 1469 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (220 - 201)
6/05 HR 1469 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (67 - 31)
6/05 H Con Res 84 Budget Resolution FY1999-2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (327 - 97)
6/05 H Con Res 84 Budget Resolution FY1999-2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
6/04 H Amdt 138 U.S. Withdrawal from the U.N. Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 369)
5/23 S Amdt 357 Violent Crime Victims Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
5/23 H Con Res 84 Budget Resolution FY1999-2000 Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
5/22 S Amdt 301 Budget Deficit Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (52 - 47)
5/21 H Con Res 84 Budget Resolution FY1999-2000 Resolution Passed - House (333 - 99)
5/20 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 36)
5/16 HR 1385 Training Programs bill Bill Passed - House (343 - 60)
5/15 HR 1469 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill Bill Passed - House (244 - 178)
5/14 HR 2 Public Housing bill Bill Passed - House (293 - 132)
5/08 HR 3 Juvenile Crime bill Bill Passed - House (286 - 132)
5/07 H Amdt 71 Endangered Species Act Exemption Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 196)
4/30 PN 82 Alexis M. Herman, Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (85 - 13)
4/24 S Res 75 Chemical Weapons Convention bill Resolution Passed - Senate (74 - 26)
4/17 S 495 Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction Act Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 44)
4/16 HR 1003 Assisted Suicide Bill Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 0)
4/15 S Amdt 31 Yucca Mountain Alternate Sites amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39)
4/15 S 104 Nuclear Waste Disposal bill Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
4/10 HR 1003 Assisted Suicide Bill Bill Passed - House (398 - 16)
3/20 S Amdt 25 U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
3/20 HR 1122 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill Bill Passed - House (295 - 136)
3/19 HR 1 Compensatory Time Bill Bill Passed - House (222 - 210)
3/12 H Res 89 Balanced Budget Request resolution Resolution Passed - House (231 - 197)
3/05 H Con Res 31 Display of the Ten Commandments Resolution Passed - House (295 - 125)
3/04 S J Res 1 Balanced Budget amendment Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (66 - 34)
2/13 HR 581 Population Planning Bill Bill Passed - House (231 - 194)
2/12 H J Res 2 Term Limits Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (217 - 211)
1/21 H Res 31 Ethics Report on Newt Gingrich Resolution Passed - House (395 - 28)
10/03 HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
9/28 HR 3610 Omnibus FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (370 - 37)
9/27 HR 3539 Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 198)
9/26 HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Failed - Senate (58 - 40)
9/25 HR 2202 Immigration Reform bill Conference Report Adopted - House (305 - 123)
9/24 HR 3666 Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - House (388 - 25)
9/19 HR 1833 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Veto Override Passed - House (285 - 137)
9/17 S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
9/17 HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
9/12 HR 3816 Appropriations bill FY97, Energy and Water Development Conference Report Adopted - House (383 - 29)
9/10 HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26)
9/10 S 2056 Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50)
9/10 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
8/02 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
8/02 S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - House (392 - 30)
8/02 HR 3448 Minimum Wage Increase bill Conference Report Adopted - House (354 - 72)
8/02 HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
8/02 S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
8/02 HR 3953 Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (389 - 22)
8/01 HR 3230 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 Conference Report Adopted - House (285 - 132)
8/01 HR 3103 Health Insurance Portability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (421 - 2)
8/01 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 21)
8/01 HR 123 English as the National Language Bill Passed - House (259 - 169)
7/31 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Conference Report Adopted - House (328 - 101)
7/31 S 1936 Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37)
7/30 HR 2391 Working Families Flexibility Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
7/25 H Amdt 1360 Renewable Energy Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135)
7/25 H Amdt 1359 Energy Research Appropriation Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 211)
7/25 HR 3820 Campaign Finance Reform Bill Failed - House (162 - 259)
7/24 H Amdt 1356 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (184 - 236)
7/23 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24)
7/22 H Amdt 1309 Non-Federally Funded Abortions Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 223)
7/18 H Amdt 1307 Food Stamp Recipient Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (239 - 184)
7/18 HR 3734 Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Bill Passed - House (256 - 170)
7/12 H Amdt 1286 Definition of Marriage Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311)
7/12 H Amdt 1280 Family Planning Services Clinics Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (232 - 193)

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