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 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 1316 Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1202 Point Based Immigration Expiration Date Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55)
June 6, 2007 National HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
May 24, 2007 National H Amdt 1 Departmental Appropriations for Defense, Security, and Hurricane Recovery Amendment Adopted - House (348 - 73)
May 24, 2007 National H Amdt 2 Replacing Titles I and II of House Amdt 1 to HR 2206 Amendment Adopted - House (280 - 142)
May 24, 2007 National HR 2206 Emergency Departmental Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (80 - 14)
May 23, 2007 National S Amdt 1169 Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24)
May 22, 2007 National HR 2264 Preventing the Organization of Petroleum Export Groups Bill Passed - House (345 - 72)
May 22, 2007 National S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (306 - 114)
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 10, 2007 National HR 2206 Emergency Departmental Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 Bill Passed - House (221 - 205)
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 3, 2007 National HR 1592 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (237 - 180)
May 2, 2007 National HR 1591 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline Veto Override Failed - House (222 - 203)
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 19, 2007 National HR 1905 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 177)
April 11, 2007 National S 5 Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34)
April 11, 2007 National S 30 Stem Cell Research Hope Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
March 29, 2007 National HR 1591 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47)
March 29, 2007 National H Con Res 99 Congressional Budget for 2008 Joint Resolution Passed - House (216 - 210)
March 27, 2007 National S Amdt 643 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50)
March 23, 2007 National S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
March 23, 2007 National HR 1591 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline Bill Passed - House (218 - 212)
March 20, 2007 National S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
March 15, 2007 National S J Res 9 United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50)
March 14, 2007 National HR 985 Whistleblower Protection Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (331 - 94)
March 13, 2007 National S 4 Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38)
March 1, 2007 National HR 800 Union Organization Bill Bill Passed - House (241 - 185)
Feb. 16, 2007 National H Con Res 63 Iraq War Policy Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (246 - 182)
Jan. 18, 2007 National HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (264 - 163)
Jan. 17, 2007 National HR 5 College Student Relief Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (356 - 71)
Jan. 12, 2007 National HR 4 Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act Bill Passed - House (255 - 170)
Jan. 11, 2007 National HR 3 Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (253 - 174)
Jan. 10, 2007 National HR 2 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (315 - 116)
Jan. 9, 2007 National HR 1 Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act Bill Passed - House (299 - 128)
Jan. 5, 2007 National H Res 6 Pay-As-You-Go Rule Resolution Passed - House (280 - 152)
Dec. 7, 2006 National PN 1396 Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11)
Dec. 6, 2006 National PN 2191 Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (95 - 2)
Dec. 6, 2006 National HR 6099 Abortion Pain Bill Bill Failed - House (250 - 162)
Sept. 29, 2006 National HR 5441 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act 2007 Conference Report Adopted - House (412 - 6)
Sept. 29, 2006 National S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (250 - 170)
Sept. 29, 2006 National HR 4772 Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (231 - 181)
Sept. 29, 2006 National HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5104 Military Commissions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/06 S Amdt 1184 Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51)
6/06 S Amdt 1316 Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
6/06 S Amdt 1202 Point Based Immigration Expiration Date Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55)
6/06 HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
5/24 H Amdt 1 Departmental Appropriations for Defense, Security, and Hurricane Recovery Amendment Adopted - House (348 - 73)
5/24 H Amdt 2 Replacing Titles I and II of House Amdt 1 to HR 2206 Amendment Adopted - House (280 - 142)
5/24 HR 2206 Emergency Departmental Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (80 - 14)
5/23 S Amdt 1169 Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24)
5/22 HR 2264 Preventing the Organization of Petroleum Export Groups Bill Passed - House (345 - 72)
5/22 S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (306 - 114)
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)
5/10 HR 2206 Emergency Departmental Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 Bill Passed - House (221 - 205)
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)
5/03 HR 1592 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (237 - 180)
5/02 HR 1591 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline Veto Override Failed - House (222 - 203)
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)
4/19 HR 1905 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 177)
4/11 S 5 Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34)
4/11 S 30 Stem Cell Research Hope Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
3/29 HR 1591 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47)
3/29 H Con Res 99 Congressional Budget for 2008 Joint Resolution Passed - House (216 - 210)
3/27 S Amdt 643 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50)
3/23 S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
3/23 HR 1591 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline Bill Passed - House (218 - 212)
3/20 S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
3/15 S J Res 9 United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50)
3/14 HR 985 Whistleblower Protection Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (331 - 94)
3/13 S 4 Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38)
3/01 HR 800 Union Organization Bill Bill Passed - House (241 - 185)
2/16 H Con Res 63 Iraq War Policy Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (246 - 182)
1/18 HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (264 - 163)
1/17 HR 5 College Student Relief Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (356 - 71)
1/12 HR 4 Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act Bill Passed - House (255 - 170)
1/11 HR 3 Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (253 - 174)
1/10 HR 2 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (315 - 116)
1/09 HR 1 Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act Bill Passed - House (299 - 128)
1/05 H Res 6 Pay-As-You-Go Rule Resolution Passed - House (280 - 152)
12/07 PN 1396 Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11)
12/06 PN 2191 Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (95 - 2)
12/06 HR 6099 Abortion Pain Bill Bill Failed - House (250 - 162)
9/29 HR 5441 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act 2007 Conference Report Adopted - House (412 - 6)
9/29 S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (250 - 170)
9/29 HR 4772 Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (231 - 181)
9/29 HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19)
9/28 S Amdt 5104 Military Commissions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
9/28 S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)

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