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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2351 | Sense of the Senate on Guantanamo Bay Detainees | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3) |
| July 18, 2007 | National | S Amdt 2087 | Iraq Troop Reduction | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47) |
| July 12, 2007 | National | HR 2956 | Redeployment from Iraq Act | Bill Passed - House (223 - 201) |
| July 11, 2007 | National | HR 556 | Foreign Investment Oversight | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 45) |
| July 11, 2007 | National | HR 556 | Foreign Investment Oversight | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 45) |
| June 28, 2007 | National | S 1639 | Second Immigration Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 53) |
| June 27, 2007 | National | HR 1830 | Andean Trade Preference Act Extension | Bill Passed - House (365 - 59) |
| June 21, 2007 | National | H Amdt 378 | Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly School of the Americas) Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 214) |
| June 21, 2007 | National | H Amdt 378 | Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly School of the Americas) Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 214) |
| June 19, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1519 | Preventing Petroleum Export Organizations (NOPEC Act of 2007) | Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 23) |
| June 15, 2007 | National | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
| June 15, 2007 | National | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
| June 7, 2007 | National | S 1348 | Immigration Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (34 - 61) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1384 | English as the Common Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39) |
| 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 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1202 | Point Based Immigration Expiration Date | Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55) |
| 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 1151 | Declaring English the National Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
| May 24, 2007 | National | H Amdt 1 | Departmental Appropriations for Defense, Security, and Hurricane Recovery | Amendment Adopted - House (348 - 73) |
| 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 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 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 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) |
| March 29, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| March 27, 2007 | National | S Amdt 643 | Iraq Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50) |
| 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 15, 2007 | National | S J Res 9 | United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50) |
| March 15, 2007 | National | S J Res 9 | United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50) |
| March 13, 2007 | National | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| Feb. 16, 2007 | National | H Con Res 63 | Iraq War Policy Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (246 - 182) |
| Feb. 16, 2007 | National | H Con Res 63 | Iraq War Policy Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (246 - 182) |
| 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. 6, 2006 | National | PN 2191 | Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (95 - 2) |
| Sept. 29, 2006 | National | HR 5441 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (412 - 6) |
| Sept. 29, 2006 | National | HR 5441 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (412 - 6) |
| Sept. 29, 2006 | National | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19) |
| Sept. 29, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 170) |
| Sept. 29, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 170) |
| Sept. 29, 2006 | National | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/19 | S Amdt 2351 | Sense of the Senate on Guantanamo Bay Detainees | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3) |
| 7/18 | S Amdt 2087 | Iraq Troop Reduction | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 7/12 | HR 2956 | Redeployment from Iraq Act | Bill Passed - House (223 - 201) |
| 7/11 | HR 556 | Foreign Investment Oversight | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 45) |
| 7/11 | HR 556 | Foreign Investment Oversight | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (370 - 45) |
| 6/28 | S 1639 | Second Immigration Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 6/27 | HR 1830 | Andean Trade Preference Act Extension | Bill Passed - House (365 - 59) |
| 6/21 | H Amdt 378 | Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly School of the Americas) Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 214) |
| 6/21 | H Amdt 378 | Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly School of the Americas) Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (203 - 214) |
| 6/19 | S Amdt 1519 | Preventing Petroleum Export Organizations (NOPEC Act of 2007) | Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 23) |
| 6/15 | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
| 6/15 | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
| 6/07 | S 1348 | Immigration Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (34 - 61) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1384 | English as the Common Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1316 | Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1202 | Point Based Immigration Expiration Date | Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1184 | Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1151 | Declaring English the National Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
| 5/24 | H Amdt 1 | Departmental Appropriations for Defense, Security, and Hurricane Recovery | Amendment Adopted - House (348 - 73) |
| 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) |
| 5/17 | 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) |
| 5/08 | 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) |
| 5/02 | 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) |
| 3/29 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| 3/27 | S Amdt 643 | Iraq Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50) |
| 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) |
| 3/15 | S J Res 9 | United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50) |
| 3/15 | S J Res 9 | United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50) |
| 3/13 | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| 2/16 | H Con Res 63 | Iraq War Policy Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (246 - 182) |
| 2/16 | H Con Res 63 | Iraq War Policy Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (246 - 182) |
| 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) |
| 12/06 | PN 2191 | Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (95 - 2) |
| 9/29 | HR 5441 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (412 - 6) |
| 9/29 | HR 5441 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (412 - 6) |
| 9/29 | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19) |
| 9/29 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 170) |
| 9/29 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 170) |
| 9/29 | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19) |