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, 2011 National HR 2278 Limits the Use of Funds in Support of NATO Operations in Libya Bill Failed - House (180 - 238)
June 24, 2011 National H J Res 68 Authorizes Limited Use of US Armed Forces in Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (123 - 295)
June 23, 2011 National HR 1249 Patent Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (304 - 117)
June 22, 2011 National HR 2021 Impact of Drilling on Air Quality Bill Passed - House (253 - 166)
June 13, 2011 National H Amdt 414 Prohibits Use of Funds in Contravention of the War Powers Resolution Amendment Adopted - House (248 - 163)
June 3, 2011 National H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
June 3, 2011 National H Res 292 Ground Forces in Libya Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145)
June 2, 2011 National H Amdt 406 Transportation Security Administration Appropriations Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 204)
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 H Amdt 385 Prohibiting Funds From Being Used in Contradiction to the War Powers Resolution Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 213)
June 2, 2011 National HR 2017 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (231 - 188)
May 31, 2011 National HR 1954 Increasing the Debt Limit Motion Rejected - House (97 - 318)
May 26, 2011 National S 990 PATRIOT Act Extension Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 153)
May 5, 2011 National HR 1230 Offshore Leasing Act Bill Passed - House (266 - 149)
May 4, 2011 National HR 3 Prohibiting Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Bill Passed - House (251 - 175)
May 4, 2011 National HR 1214 Repealing Funding for School-Based Health Center Construction Bill Passed - House (235 - 191)
May 3, 2011 National HR 1213 Repealing Funding for State Health Benefit Exchanges Bill Passed - House (238 - 183)
April 15, 2011 National H Con Res 34 2011-2012 Budget Joint Resolution Passed - House (235 - 193)
April 14, 2011 National HR 1473 2011 Budget Bill Passed - House (260 - 167)
April 13, 2011 National HR 1217 Repealing the Prevention and Public Health Fund Bill Passed - House (236 - 183)
April 9, 2011 National HR 1363 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (348 - 70)
April 8, 2011 National H J Res 37 Disapproving FCC Rules Concerning Internet Providers Joint Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179)
April 7, 2011 National HR 1363 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations Bill Passed - House (247 - 181)
April 7, 2011 National HR 910 Energy Tax Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (255 - 172)
April 1, 2011 National H Amdt 232 Amending FAA Rulemaking Activities Amendment Adopted - House (215 - 209)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/24 HR 2278 Limits the Use of Funds in Support of NATO Operations in Libya Bill Failed - House (180 - 238)
6/24 H J Res 68 Authorizes Limited Use of US Armed Forces in Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (123 - 295)
6/23 HR 1249 Patent Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (304 - 117)
6/22 HR 2021 Impact of Drilling on Air Quality Bill Passed - House (253 - 166)
6/13 H Amdt 414 Prohibits Use of Funds in Contravention of the War Powers Resolution Amendment Adopted - House (248 - 163)
6/03 H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
6/03 H Res 292 Ground Forces in Libya Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145)
6/02 H Amdt 406 Transportation Security Administration Appropriations Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 204)
6/02 H Amdt 398 Prohibiting the Use of Funds for Transportation Security Administration Collective Bargaining Amendment Adopted - House (218 - 205)
6/02 H Amdt 385 Prohibiting Funds From Being Used in Contradiction to the War Powers Resolution Amendment Rejected - House (208 - 213)
6/02 HR 2017 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act Bill Passed - House (231 - 188)
5/31 HR 1954 Increasing the Debt Limit Motion Rejected - House (97 - 318)
5/26 S 990 PATRIOT Act Extension Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 153)
5/05 HR 1230 Offshore Leasing Act Bill Passed - House (266 - 149)
5/04 HR 3 Prohibiting Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Bill Passed - House (251 - 175)
5/04 HR 1214 Repealing Funding for School-Based Health Center Construction Bill Passed - House (235 - 191)
5/03 HR 1213 Repealing Funding for State Health Benefit Exchanges Bill Passed - House (238 - 183)
4/15 H Con Res 34 2011-2012 Budget Joint Resolution Passed - House (235 - 193)
4/14 HR 1473 2011 Budget Bill Passed - House (260 - 167)
4/13 HR 1217 Repealing the Prevention and Public Health Fund Bill Passed - House (236 - 183)
4/09 HR 1363 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (348 - 70)
4/08 H J Res 37 Disapproving FCC Rules Concerning Internet Providers Joint Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179)
4/07 HR 1363 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations Bill Passed - House (247 - 181)
4/07 HR 910 Energy Tax Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (255 - 172)
4/01 H Amdt 232 Amending FAA Rulemaking Activities Amendment Adopted - House (215 - 209)

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