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
May 18, 2010 National S Amdt 4071 Amending State Authority to Enforce Consumer Financial Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (80 - 18)
May 18, 2010 National S Amdt 4051 Prohibiting Funding of State and Local Governments to Prevent Defaulting on Debt Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
May 18, 2010 National S Amdt 4072 Inspector General Appointment Modification Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 21)
May 13, 2010 National S Amdt 3987 Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Termination Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 55)
May 13, 2010 National S Amdt 3989 Debit Card Fee Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33)
May 13, 2010 National S Amdt 3991 Credit Rating Agency Board Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 35)
May 13, 2010 National S Amdt 3832 Establishing Bankruptcy Process for Non-bank Financial Institutions Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 58)
May 12, 2010 National S Amdt 3962 Home Loan Regulation Modifications Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 36)
May 12, 2010 National S Amdt 3816 Derivatives Regulation Modifications Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 59)
May 12, 2010 National S Amdt 3955 Establishing New Mortgage Underwriting Requirements and Eliminating a Risk Retention Requirement Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 57)
May 11, 2010 National S Amdt 3938 Study on Ending the Conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 36)
May 11, 2010 National S Amdt 3839 Termination of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Conservatorships Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
May 11, 2010 National S Amdt 3760 Federal Reserve Audit Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 62)
May 6, 2010 National S Amdt 3826 Consumer Financial Protection Division Within The FDIC Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
April 15, 2010 National HR 4851 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 38)
March 25, 2010 National HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
March 17, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
March 10, 2010 National HR 4213 Extending Unemployment Benefits and Certain Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
March 3, 2010 National S Amdt 3353 Payment to Social Security Recipients Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
Feb. 24, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
Feb. 22, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30)
Feb. 9, 2010 National PN 1351 Craig Becker, Member of the National Labor Relations Board Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 33)
Jan. 28, 2010 National PN 959 Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
Jan. 28, 2010 National H J Res 45 Increasing the Public Debt Limit and Reinstating PAYGO Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Jan. 26, 2010 National S Amdt 3302 Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
Jan. 21, 2010 National S Amdt 3301 Ending the Troubled Asset Relief Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 45)
Dec. 24, 2009 National HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 24, 2009 National HR 4314 Increasing the National Public Debt Limit Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 23, 2009 National HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 23, 2009 National S Amdt 2786 Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 22, 2009 National S Amdt 2786 Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 22, 2009 National S Amdt 3276 Senate Health Care Bill Amendments Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
Dec. 15, 2009 National S Amdt 2793 Authorizing Importation of Prescription Drugs Amendment Rejected - Senate (51 - 48)
Dec. 13, 2009 National HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 35)
Dec. 8, 2009 National S Amdt 2962 Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 45)
Dec. 3, 2009 National S Amdt 2791 Preventive Services Coverage Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
Nov. 19, 2009 National PN 187 David F. Hamilton, Seventh Circuit Judge Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 39)
Oct. 29, 2009 National HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28)
Oct. 27, 2009 National HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Cloture Invoked - Senate (87 - 13)
Oct. 22, 2009 National HR 2647 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 29)
Oct. 21, 2009 National S 1776 Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
Oct. 20, 2009 National HR 2892 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 19)
Oct. 8, 2009 National HR 2997 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
Oct. 6, 2009 National S Amdt 2588 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30)
Oct. 1, 2009 National S Amdt 2575 U.S. Military Commanders to Testify Before Congress Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 59)
Sept. 30, 2009 National HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
Sept. 14, 2009 National S Amdt 2355 Prohibiting Funding for ACORN Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7)
Aug. 6, 2009 National PN 506 Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31)
Aug. 6, 2009 National HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
July 22, 2009 National S Amdt 1618 Authorizing Concealed Firearms Across State Lines Amendment Rejected - Senate (58 - 39)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/18 S Amdt 4071 Amending State Authority to Enforce Consumer Financial Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (80 - 18)
5/18 S Amdt 4051 Prohibiting Funding of State and Local Governments to Prevent Defaulting on Debt Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
5/18 S Amdt 4072 Inspector General Appointment Modification Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 21)
5/13 S Amdt 3987 Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Termination Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 55)
5/13 S Amdt 3989 Debit Card Fee Regulations Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33)
5/13 S Amdt 3991 Credit Rating Agency Board Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 35)
5/13 S Amdt 3832 Establishing Bankruptcy Process for Non-bank Financial Institutions Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 58)
5/12 S Amdt 3962 Home Loan Regulation Modifications Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 36)
5/12 S Amdt 3816 Derivatives Regulation Modifications Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 59)
5/12 S Amdt 3955 Establishing New Mortgage Underwriting Requirements and Eliminating a Risk Retention Requirement Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 57)
5/11 S Amdt 3938 Study on Ending the Conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Amendment Adopted - Senate (63 - 36)
5/11 S Amdt 3839 Termination of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Conservatorships Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
5/11 S Amdt 3760 Federal Reserve Audit Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 62)
5/06 S Amdt 3826 Consumer Financial Protection Division Within The FDIC Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
4/15 HR 4851 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 38)
3/25 HR 4872 Health Care Reconciliation Act Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43)
3/17 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
3/10 HR 4213 Extending Unemployment Benefits and Certain Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
3/03 S Amdt 3353 Payment to Social Security Recipients Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
2/24 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
2/22 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30)
2/09 PN 1351 Craig Becker, Member of the National Labor Relations Board Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 33)
1/28 PN 959 Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
1/28 H J Res 45 Increasing the Public Debt Limit and Reinstating PAYGO Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
1/26 S Amdt 3302 Establishing a Federal Budget Deficit Commission Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46)
1/21 S Amdt 3301 Ending the Troubled Asset Relief Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 45)
12/24 HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
12/24 HR 4314 Increasing the National Public Debt Limit Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39)
12/23 HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39)
12/23 S Amdt 2786 Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
12/22 S Amdt 2786 Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39)
12/22 S Amdt 3276 Senate Health Care Bill Amendments Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39)
12/15 S Amdt 2793 Authorizing Importation of Prescription Drugs Amendment Rejected - Senate (51 - 48)
12/13 HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 35)
12/08 S Amdt 2962 Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 45)
12/03 S Amdt 2791 Preventive Services Coverage Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
11/19 PN 187 David F. Hamilton, Seventh Circuit Judge Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 39)
10/29 HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28)
10/27 HR 3548 Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits Cloture Invoked - Senate (87 - 13)
10/22 HR 2647 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 29)
10/21 S 1776 Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
10/20 HR 2892 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 19)
10/08 HR 2997 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22)
10/06 S Amdt 2588 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30)
10/01 S Amdt 2575 U.S. Military Commanders to Testify Before Congress Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 59)
9/30 HR 2918 Continuing Appropriations Resolution and 2009-2010 Legislative Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 38)
9/14 S Amdt 2355 Prohibiting Funding for ACORN Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7)
8/06 PN 506 Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31)
8/06 HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
7/22 S Amdt 1618 Authorizing Concealed Firearms Across State Lines Amendment Rejected - Senate (58 - 39)

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