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
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 177 Education Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 211 Native American Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 244 Unintended Pregnancy Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 214 Prescription Drugs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50)
March 17, 2005 National S Amdt 229 Medicaid Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51)
March 17, 2005 National S Con Res 18 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2005 National S Amdt 168 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51)
March 10, 2005 National S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
March 8, 2005 National S Amdt 47 Violent Protestor Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
March 7, 2005 National S Amdt 128 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
March 7, 2005 National S Amdt 44 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 49)
Feb. 10, 2005 National S 5 Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 26)
Feb. 3, 2005 National PN 12 Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 36)
Jan. 26, 2005 National PN 8 Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (85 - 13)
Oct. 11, 2004 National HR 4520 JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 17)
Oct. 6, 2004 National S 2845 National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2)
Sept. 23, 2004 National HR 1308 Child Tax Credit Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 3)
Sept. 21, 2004 National HR 4755 Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
July 22, 2004 National HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 0)
July 14, 2004 National S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
June 23, 2004 National S 2400 Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
May 21, 2004 National S Res 356 Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners Resolution Passed - Senate (92 - 0)
May 13, 2004 National HR 1350 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
May 11, 2004 National S Amdt 3114 Unemployment Benefits Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (59 - 40)
May 11, 2004 National S 1637 Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 5)
April 29, 2004 National S 150 Internet Access Tax Bill Bill Passed - Senate (93 - 3)
April 22, 2004 National S 2329 Victims' Rights Bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
April 8, 2004 National HR 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 19)
March 25, 2004 National HR 1997 Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
March 12, 2004 National S Con Res 95 Budget Appropriations- FY 2005 Resolution Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
March 2, 2004 National S 1805 Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 90)
Feb. 12, 2004 National S 1072 Highway Trust Fund Bill Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21)
Jan. 22, 2004 National HR 2673 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28)
Nov. 25, 2003 National HR 1 Medicare Prescription Drug bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
Nov. 12, 2003 National HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
Oct. 28, 2003 National PN 884 Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (88 - 8)
Oct. 23, 2003 National S Amdt 1904 Congressional Pay Raise Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (60 - 34)
Oct. 21, 2003 National S 3 Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34)
Oct. 17, 2003 National S 1689 Emergency Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
Sept. 16, 2003 National S J Res 17 FCC Media Ownership bill Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 40)
July 31, 2003 National HR 6 Energy Omnibus bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14)
July 31, 2003 National HR 2739 U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32)
July 31, 2003 National HR 2738 U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32)
July 11, 2003 National HR 2657 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7)
June 27, 2003 National S 1 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit bill Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21)
June 10, 2003 National S Amdt 865 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (67 - 32)
June 10, 2003 National S Amdt 871 Reduction of Foreign Oil Dependence Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (99 - 1)
May 23, 2003 National HR 2 Jobs and Economic Growth bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50)
May 22, 2003 National S 1050 Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
April 11, 2003 National H Con Res 95 Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/17 S Amdt 177 Education Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
3/17 S Amdt 211 Native American Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55)
3/17 S Amdt 244 Unintended Pregnancy Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
3/17 S Amdt 214 Prescription Drugs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50)
3/17 S Amdt 229 Medicaid Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51)
3/17 S Con Res 18 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 S Amdt 168 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 51)
3/10 S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
3/08 S Amdt 47 Violent Protestor Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
3/07 S Amdt 128 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (38 - 61)
3/07 S Amdt 44 Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 49)
2/10 S 5 Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 26)
2/03 PN 12 Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 36)
1/26 PN 8 Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (85 - 13)
10/11 HR 4520 JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 17)
10/06 S 2845 National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2)
9/23 HR 1308 Child Tax Credit Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 3)
9/21 HR 4755 Legislative Branch FY2005 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
7/22 HR 4613 Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 0)
7/14 S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
6/23 S 2400 Military Construction FY2005 Authorization Bill Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0)
5/21 S Res 356 Resolution Condemning Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners Resolution Passed - Senate (92 - 0)
5/13 HR 1350 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Bill Passed - Senate (95 - 3)
5/11 S Amdt 3114 Unemployment Benefits Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (59 - 40)
5/11 S 1637 Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 5)
4/29 S 150 Internet Access Tax Bill Bill Passed - Senate (93 - 3)
4/22 S 2329 Victims' Rights Bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
4/08 HR 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 19)
3/25 HR 1997 Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
3/12 S Con Res 95 Budget Appropriations- FY 2005 Resolution Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 45)
3/02 S 1805 Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 90)
2/12 S 1072 Highway Trust Fund Bill Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21)
1/22 HR 2673 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 28)
11/25 HR 1 Medicare Prescription Drug bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44)
11/12 HR 1588 Defense Department FY2004 Authorization bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (95 - 3)
10/28 PN 884 Michael Leavitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (88 - 8)
10/23 S Amdt 1904 Congressional Pay Raise Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (60 - 34)
10/21 S 3 Prohibit Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34)
10/17 S 1689 Emergency Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
9/16 S J Res 17 FCC Media Ownership bill Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 40)
7/31 HR 6 Energy Omnibus bill Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14)
7/31 HR 2739 U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32)
7/31 HR 2738 U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32)
7/11 HR 2657 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, FY 2003 bill Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7)
6/27 S 1 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit bill Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 21)
6/10 S Amdt 865 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (67 - 32)
6/10 S Amdt 871 Reduction of Foreign Oil Dependence Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (99 - 1)
5/23 HR 2 Jobs and Economic Growth bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50)
5/22 S 1050 Fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization-Passage Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 1)
4/11 H Con Res 95 Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50)

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