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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 30, 1998 | National | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (242 - 163) |
| March 31, 1998 | National | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (212 - 208) |
| March 31, 1998 | National | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (212 - 208) |
| March 18, 1998 | National | H Con Res 227 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U.S. Troop Removal Resolution | Resolution Failed - House (193 - 225) |
| March 18, 1998 | National | H Con Res 227 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U.S. Troop Removal Resolution | Resolution Failed - House (193 - 225) |
| March 17, 1998 | National | H Res 364 | Human Rights in China | Resolution Passed - House (397 - 0) |
| March 11, 1998 | National | HR 1432 | African Growth bill | Bill Passed - House (233 - 186) |
| Feb. 5, 1998 | National | HR 2631 | Line Item Veto Cancellation bill | Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69) |
| Nov. 13, 1997 | National | HR 2159 | Foreign Operations FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (333 - 76) |
| Nov. 13, 1997 | National | H Con Res 137 | Iraq War Crimes Tribunal | Resolution Passed - House (396 - 2) |
| Nov. 8, 1997 | National | HR 2631 | Line Item Veto Cancellation bill | Bill Passed - House (352 - 64) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 | National | S 858 | Intelligence FY98 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (385 - 36) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
| Nov. 7, 1997 | National | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
| Nov. 6, 1997 | National | HR 2386 | U.S.-Taiwan Missile Defense Cooperation bill | Bill Passed - House (301 - 116) |
| Nov. 5, 1997 | National | HR 2358 | China Political Freedom bill | Bill Passed - House (416 - 5) |
| Nov. 4, 1997 | National | HR 2644 | United States-Caribbean Trade Partnership Act | Bill Failed - House (182 - 234) |
| Oct. 28, 1997 | National | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 123) |
| Oct. 28, 1997 | National | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 123) |
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| Sept. 4, 1997 | National | H Amdt 314 | Army School of the Americas amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 217) |
| Sept. 4, 1997 | National | H Amdt 314 | Army School of the Americas amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 217) |
| Sept. 4, 1997 | National | HR 2159 | Foreign Operations FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (375 - 49) |
| July 29, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| July 29, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| July 29, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| July 22, 1997 | National | H Res 175 | Republic of Congo Elections | Resolution Failed - House (279 - 147) |
| June 25, 1997 | National | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (304 - 120) |
| June 25, 1997 | National | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (304 - 120) |
| June 24, 1997 | National | H Amdt 204 | Bosnia Deployment Extension Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 231) |
| June 24, 1997 | National | H Amdt 203 | Bosnia Deployment Termination Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (278 - 148) |
| June 24, 1997 | National | H Amdt 204 | Bosnia Deployment Extension Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 231) |
| June 24, 1997 | National | H Amdt 203 | Bosnia Deployment Termination Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (278 - 148) |
| June 24, 1997 | National | H J Res 79 | China Most-Favored-Nation Resolution | Joint Resolution Failed - House (173 - 259) |
| June 23, 1997 | National | H Amdt 192 | Border Defense Personnel Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119) |
| June 23, 1997 | National | H Amdt 192 | Border Defense Personnel Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119) |
| June 23, 1997 | National | H Amdt 198 | B-2 Bomber Program Termination Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 216) |
| June 19, 1997 | National | H Amdt 187 | Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 224) |
| June 4, 1997 | National | H Amdt 138 | U.S. Withdrawal from the U.N. Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 369) |
| Feb. 13, 1997 | National | HR 581 | Population Planning Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 194) |
| Sept. 25, 1996 | National | HR 2202 | Immigration Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (305 - 123) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3953 | Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 22) |
| Aug. 1, 1996 | National | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Conference Report Adopted - House (285 - 132) |
| Aug. 1, 1996 | National | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Conference Report Adopted - House (285 - 132) |
| Aug. 1, 1996 | National | HR 123 | English as the National Language | Bill Passed - House (259 - 169) |
| June 13, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1167 | Spaced-based Weapons Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208) |
| June 13, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1164 | Department of Defense Appropriations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 219) |
| June 13, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1167 | Spaced-based Weapons Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/30 | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (242 - 163) |
| 3/31 | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (212 - 208) |
| 3/31 | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (212 - 208) |
| 3/18 | H Con Res 227 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U.S. Troop Removal Resolution | Resolution Failed - House (193 - 225) |
| 3/18 | H Con Res 227 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U.S. Troop Removal Resolution | Resolution Failed - House (193 - 225) |
| 3/17 | H Res 364 | Human Rights in China | Resolution Passed - House (397 - 0) |
| 3/11 | HR 1432 | African Growth bill | Bill Passed - House (233 - 186) |
| 2/05 | HR 2631 | Line Item Veto Cancellation bill | Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69) |
| 11/13 | HR 2159 | Foreign Operations FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (333 - 76) |
| 11/13 | H Con Res 137 | Iraq War Crimes Tribunal | Resolution Passed - House (396 - 2) |
| 11/08 | HR 2631 | Line Item Veto Cancellation bill | Bill Passed - House (352 - 64) |
| 11/07 | S 858 | Intelligence FY98 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (385 - 36) |
| 11/07 | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
| 11/07 | HR 2647 | PLA Monitoring bill | Bill Passed - House (408 - 10) |
| 11/06 | HR 2386 | U.S.-Taiwan Missile Defense Cooperation bill | Bill Passed - House (301 - 116) |
| 11/05 | HR 2358 | China Political Freedom bill | Bill Passed - House (416 - 5) |
| 11/04 | HR 2644 | United States-Caribbean Trade Partnership Act | Bill Failed - House (182 - 234) |
| 10/28 | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 123) |
| 10/28 | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (286 - 123) |
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (356 - 65) |
| 9/04 | H Amdt 314 | Army School of the Americas amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 217) |
| 9/04 | H Amdt 314 | Army School of the Americas amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (210 - 217) |
| 9/04 | HR 2159 | Foreign Operations FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (375 - 49) |
| 7/29 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| 7/29 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| 7/29 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (322 - 105) |
| 7/22 | H Res 175 | Republic of Congo Elections | Resolution Failed - House (279 - 147) |
| 6/25 | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (304 - 120) |
| 6/25 | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - House (304 - 120) |
| 6/24 | H Amdt 204 | Bosnia Deployment Extension Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 231) |
| 6/24 | H Amdt 203 | Bosnia Deployment Termination Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (278 - 148) |
| 6/24 | H Amdt 204 | Bosnia Deployment Extension Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 231) |
| 6/24 | H Amdt 203 | Bosnia Deployment Termination Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (278 - 148) |
| 6/24 | H J Res 79 | China Most-Favored-Nation Resolution | Joint Resolution Failed - House (173 - 259) |
| 6/23 | H Amdt 192 | Border Defense Personnel Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119) |
| 6/23 | H Amdt 192 | Border Defense Personnel Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (269 - 119) |
| 6/23 | H Amdt 198 | B-2 Bomber Program Termination Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (209 - 216) |
| 6/19 | H Amdt 187 | Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (196 - 224) |
| 6/04 | H Amdt 138 | U.S. Withdrawal from the U.N. Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 369) |
| 2/13 | HR 581 | Population Planning Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 194) |
| 9/25 | HR 2202 | Immigration Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (305 - 123) |
| 8/02 | HR 3953 | Aviation Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1996 | Bill Passed - House (389 - 22) |
| 8/01 | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Conference Report Adopted - House (285 - 132) |
| 8/01 | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Conference Report Adopted - House (285 - 132) |
| 8/01 | HR 123 | English as the National Language | Bill Passed - House (259 - 169) |
| 6/13 | H Amdt 1167 | Spaced-based Weapons Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208) |
| 6/13 | H Amdt 1164 | Department of Defense Appropriations Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 219) |
| 6/13 | H Amdt 1167 | Spaced-based Weapons Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 208) |