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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| July 29, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| June 23, 1997 | National | H Amdt 192 | Border Defense Personnel Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119) |
| May 8, 1997 | National | HR 3 | Juvenile Crime bill | Bill Passed - House (286 - 132) |
| March 20, 1997 | National | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Bill Passed - House (295 - 136) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3953 | Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 22) |
| June 13, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1167 | Spaced-based Weapons Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208) |
| May 22, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1075 | Disclosure of Intelligence Spending Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 248) |
| May 9, 1996 | National | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163) |
| May 7, 1996 | National | HR 2137 | Megan's Law | Bill Passed - House (418 - 0) |
| May 7, 1996 | National | HR 2137 | Megan's Law | Bill Passed - House (418 - 0) |
| April 30, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
| April 18, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
| April 18, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
| March 29, 1996 | National | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158) |
| March 22, 1996 | National | HR 125 | Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (239 - 173) |
| March 22, 1996 | National | HR 125 | Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (239 - 173) |
| March 14, 1996 | National | H Amdt 954 | Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283) |
| March 14, 1996 | National | H Amdt 954 | Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283) |
| March 14, 1996 | National | HR 2703 | Antiterrorism bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 191) |
| March 12, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172) |
| Dec. 20, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Veto Override Passed - House (319 - 100) |
| Dec. 6, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (320 - 102) |
| June 8, 1995 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (222 - 192) |
| March 8, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 99) |
| Feb. 16, 1995 | National | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| Feb. 14, 1995 | National | HR 728 | Anti-Crime bill | Bill Passed - House (238 - 192) |
| Feb. 8, 1995 | National | HR 666 | Admission of Evidence Seized Without a Warrant in Certain Conditions | Bill Passed - House (289 - 142) |
| Feb. 8, 1995 | National | HR 666 | Admission of Evidence Seized Without a Warrant in Certain Conditions | Bill Passed - House (289 - 142) |
| Aug. 21, 1994 | National | HR 3355 | Omnibus Crime Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 195) |
| July 19, 1994 | National | H Amdt 759 | Intelligence Spending Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 221) |
| May 5, 1994 | National | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174) |
| May 5, 1994 | National | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174) |
| May 5, 1994 | National | HR 4296 | Regulation of Semi-Automatic Assault Weapons | Bill Passed - House (216 - 214) |
| April 21, 1994 | National | HR 4092 | Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 | Bill Passed - House (285 - 141) |
| April 21, 1994 | National | HR 4092 | Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 | Bill Passed - House (285 - 141) |
| April 14, 1994 | National | H Amdt 503 | Death Penalty Removal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (111 - 314) |
| Feb. 10, 1994 | National | H Amdt 436 | Bryant Amendment to Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1993 | Amendment Adopted - House (230 - 188) |
| Feb. 3, 1994 | National | H Amdt 427 | Fiscal 1994 Disaster Relief Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (207 - 211) |
| Nov. 23, 1993 | National | HR 1025 | Brady Handgun Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (238 - 187) |
| Nov. 19, 1993 | National | HR 3351 | Youth Offenders Alternative Punishment | Bill Passed - House (336 - 82) |
| Nov. 18, 1993 | National | HR 796 | Abortion Clinic Access Bill | Motion Rejected - House (182 - 246) |
| Nov. 10, 1993 | National | H Amdt 390 | Instant Background Checks for Gun Purchase Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (238 - 192) |
| Nov. 10, 1993 | National | HR 1025 | Brady Handgun Bill | Bill Passed - House (238 - 189) |
| Oct. 19, 1993 | National | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 89) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| Sept. 29, 1993 | National | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| July 27, 1993 | National | HR 2667 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, 1993 | Bill Passed - House (400 - 27) |
| June 29, 1993 | National | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - House (313 - 110) |
| May 19, 1993 | National | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 167) |
| May 5, 1993 | National | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 164) |
| Feb. 4, 1993 | National | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (259 - 160) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| 7/29 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| 6/23 | H Amdt 192 | Border Defense Personnel Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119) |
| 5/08 | HR 3 | Juvenile Crime bill | Bill Passed - House (286 - 132) |
| 3/20 | HR 1122 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion bill | Bill Passed - House (295 - 136) |
| 8/02 | HR 3953 | Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 22) |
| 6/13 | H Amdt 1167 | Spaced-based Weapons Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208) |
| 5/22 | H Amdt 1075 | Disclosure of Intelligence Spending Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 248) |
| 5/09 | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Veto Override Failed - House (258 - 163) |
| 5/07 | HR 2137 | Megan's Law | Bill Passed - House (418 - 0) |
| 5/07 | HR 2137 | Megan's Law | Bill Passed - House (418 - 0) |
| 4/30 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
| 4/18 | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
| 4/18 | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
| 3/29 | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158) |
| 3/22 | HR 125 | Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (239 - 173) |
| 3/22 | HR 125 | Gun Ban Repeal Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (239 - 173) |
| 3/14 | H Amdt 954 | Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283) |
| 3/14 | H Amdt 954 | Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283) |
| 3/14 | HR 2703 | Antiterrorism bill | Bill Passed - House (229 - 191) |
| 3/12 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172) |
| 12/20 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Veto Override Passed - House (319 - 100) |
| 12/06 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (320 - 102) |
| 6/08 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (222 - 192) |
| 3/08 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (325 - 99) |
| 2/16 | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| 2/14 | HR 728 | Anti-Crime bill | Bill Passed - House (238 - 192) |
| 2/08 | HR 666 | Admission of Evidence Seized Without a Warrant in Certain Conditions | Bill Passed - House (289 - 142) |
| 2/08 | HR 666 | Admission of Evidence Seized Without a Warrant in Certain Conditions | Bill Passed - House (289 - 142) |
| 8/21 | HR 3355 | Omnibus Crime Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (235 - 195) |
| 7/19 | H Amdt 759 | Intelligence Spending Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 221) |
| 5/05 | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174) |
| 5/05 | S 636 | Abortion Clinic Access bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (241 - 174) |
| 5/05 | HR 4296 | Regulation of Semi-Automatic Assault Weapons | Bill Passed - House (216 - 214) |
| 4/21 | HR 4092 | Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 | Bill Passed - House (285 - 141) |
| 4/21 | HR 4092 | Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 | Bill Passed - House (285 - 141) |
| 4/14 | H Amdt 503 | Death Penalty Removal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (111 - 314) |
| 2/10 | H Amdt 436 | Bryant Amendment to Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1993 | Amendment Adopted - House (230 - 188) |
| 2/03 | H Amdt 427 | Fiscal 1994 Disaster Relief Funding | Amendment Rejected - House (207 - 211) |
| 11/23 | HR 1025 | Brady Handgun Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (238 - 187) |
| 11/19 | HR 3351 | Youth Offenders Alternative Punishment | Bill Passed - House (336 - 82) |
| 11/18 | HR 796 | Abortion Clinic Access Bill | Motion Rejected - House (182 - 246) |
| 11/10 | H Amdt 390 | Instant Background Checks for Gun Purchase Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (238 - 192) |
| 11/10 | HR 1025 | Brady Handgun Bill | Bill Passed - House (238 - 189) |
| 10/19 | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 89) |
| 9/29 | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| 9/29 | HR 2401 | Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (268 - 162) |
| 7/27 | HR 2667 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, 1993 | Bill Passed - House (400 - 27) |
| 6/29 | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - House (313 - 110) |
| 5/19 | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 167) |
| 5/05 | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 164) |
| 2/04 | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (259 - 160) |