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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1075 | Disclosure of Intelligence Spending Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 248) |
| May 15, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1058 | Former Soviet Union Defense Conversion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 171) |
| May 15, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1057 | Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 220) |
| May 15, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1057 | Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 220) |
| May 15, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1058 | Former Soviet Union Defense Conversion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 171) |
| May 15, 1996 | National | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Bill Passed - House (272 - 153) |
| May 15, 1996 | National | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Bill Passed - House (272 - 153) |
| April 30, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
| 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 21, 1996 | National | HR 2202 | Immigration Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (333 - 87) |
| March 20, 1996 | National | H Amdt 974 | Immigrant English Proficiency Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (210 - 207) |
| March 20, 1996 | National | H Amdt 968 | Immigrant Public Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (151 - 269) |
| March 20, 1996 | National | H Amdt 969 | Denying Public Education to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (257 - 163) |
| 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) |
| March 12, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172) |
| March 6, 1996 | National | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 86) |
| March 6, 1996 | National | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 86) |
| Jan. 24, 1996 | National | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129) |
| Jan. 24, 1996 | National | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129) |
| Jan. 3, 1996 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156) |
| Jan. 3, 1996 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156) |
| Dec. 15, 1995 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (267 - 149) |
| Dec. 15, 1995 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (267 - 149) |
| Dec. 13, 1995 | National | HR 2770 | Troop Deployment in Bosnia Bill | Bill Failed - House (210 - 218) |
| Dec. 13, 1995 | National | HR 2770 | Troop Deployment in Bosnia Bill | Bill Failed - House (210 - 218) |
| Nov. 17, 1995 | National | HR 2606 | U.S. Troops in Bosnia Funding Bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 171) |
| Nov. 17, 1995 | National | HR 2606 | U.S. Troops in Bosnia Funding Bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 171) |
| Nov. 16, 1995 | National | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 158) |
| Oct. 31, 1995 | National | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (351 - 71) |
| Oct. 31, 1995 | National | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (351 - 71) |
| Oct. 30, 1995 | National | H Res 247 | Bosnia Troop Deployment Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (315 - 103) |
| Oct. 30, 1995 | National | H Res 247 | Bosnia Troop Deployment Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (315 - 103) |
| Sept. 20, 1995 | National | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (326 - 98) |
| Sept. 7, 1995 | National | H Amdt 752 | Overseas Military Abortions | Amendment Adopted - House (226 - 191) |
| Sept. 7, 1995 | National | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Bill Passed - House (294 - 125) |
| July 11, 1995 | National | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (333 - 89) |
| July 11, 1995 | National | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (333 - 89) |
| June 28, 1995 | National | H Amdt 477 | Abortion Funding Ban Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (243 - 187) |
| June 21, 1995 | National | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (319 - 105) |
| June 15, 1995 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Bill Passed - House (300 - 126) |
| June 15, 1995 | National | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Bill Passed - House (300 - 126) |
| June 8, 1995 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (222 - 192) |
| June 8, 1995 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (222 - 192) |
| May 24, 1995 | National | H Amdt 403 | Foreign Abortion Ban Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (240 - 181) |
| Feb. 16, 1995 | National | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| Feb. 16, 1995 | National | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| Feb. 16, 1995 | National | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/22 | H Amdt 1075 | Disclosure of Intelligence Spending Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 248) |
| 5/15 | H Amdt 1058 | Former Soviet Union Defense Conversion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 171) |
| 5/15 | H Amdt 1057 | Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 220) |
| 5/15 | H Amdt 1057 | Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 220) |
| 5/15 | H Amdt 1058 | Former Soviet Union Defense Conversion Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 171) |
| 5/15 | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Bill Passed - House (272 - 153) |
| 5/15 | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Bill Passed - House (272 - 153) |
| 4/30 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
| 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) |
| 3/21 | HR 2202 | Immigration Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (333 - 87) |
| 3/20 | H Amdt 974 | Immigrant English Proficiency Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (210 - 207) |
| 3/20 | H Amdt 968 | Immigrant Public Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (151 - 269) |
| 3/20 | H Amdt 969 | Denying Public Education to Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Adopted - House (257 - 163) |
| 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) |
| 3/12 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172) |
| 3/06 | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 86) |
| 3/06 | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (336 - 86) |
| 1/24 | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129) |
| 1/24 | S 1124 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (287 - 129) |
| 1/03 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156) |
| 1/03 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 156) |
| 12/15 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (267 - 149) |
| 12/15 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Conference Report Adopted - House (267 - 149) |
| 12/13 | HR 2770 | Troop Deployment in Bosnia Bill | Bill Failed - House (210 - 218) |
| 12/13 | HR 2770 | Troop Deployment in Bosnia Bill | Bill Failed - House (210 - 218) |
| 11/17 | HR 2606 | U.S. Troops in Bosnia Funding Bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 171) |
| 11/17 | HR 2606 | U.S. Troops in Bosnia Funding Bill | Bill Passed - House (243 - 171) |
| 11/16 | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 158) |
| 10/31 | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (351 - 71) |
| 10/31 | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (351 - 71) |
| 10/30 | H Res 247 | Bosnia Troop Deployment Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (315 - 103) |
| 10/30 | H Res 247 | Bosnia Troop Deployment Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (315 - 103) |
| 9/20 | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (326 - 98) |
| 9/07 | H Amdt 752 | Overseas Military Abortions | Amendment Adopted - House (226 - 191) |
| 9/07 | HR 2126 | Appropriations bill FY96, Defense | Bill Passed - House (294 - 125) |
| 7/11 | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (333 - 89) |
| 7/11 | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (333 - 89) |
| 6/28 | H Amdt 477 | Abortion Funding Ban Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (243 - 187) |
| 6/21 | HR 1817 | Military Construction FY96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (319 - 105) |
| 6/15 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Bill Passed - House (300 - 126) |
| 6/15 | HR 1530 | Authorization bill FY96, Defense Department | Bill Passed - House (300 - 126) |
| 6/08 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (222 - 192) |
| 6/08 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - House (222 - 192) |
| 5/24 | H Amdt 403 | Foreign Abortion Ban Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (240 - 181) |
| 2/16 | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| 2/16 | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| 2/16 | HR 7 | Limiting U.S. Monetary and Troop Assistance to the United Nations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |