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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3252 | Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 49) |
| May 18, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3154 | Troop Withdrawal from Kosovo Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 47) |
| May 11, 2000 | National | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (77 - 19) |
| Nov. 3, 1999 | National | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 19) |
| Oct. 15, 1999 | National | HR 2684 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| Oct. 13, 1999 | National | Treaty Doc. 105-28 | Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty | Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Oct. 13, 1999 | National | Treaty Doc. 105-28 | Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty | Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Oct. 6, 1999 | National | HR 2606 | Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| Oct. 6, 1999 | National | HR 2606 | Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| Sept. 22, 1999 | National | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| Sept. 22, 1999 | National | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| Aug. 5, 1999 | National | PN 100 | Richard Holbrooke, Representative to the United Nations | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (81 - 16) |
| June 30, 1999 | National | S Amdt 1157 | Cuba Travel Ban Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (55 - 43) |
| June 30, 1999 | National | S 1234 | Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| June 30, 1999 | National | S 1234 | Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| May 27, 1999 | National | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| May 27, 1999 | National | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| May 26, 1999 | National | S Amdt 393 | FY 2000 Defense Auth.--Base Closures | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 60) |
| May 20, 1999 | National | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
| May 20, 1999 | National | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
| May 20, 1999 | National | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
| March 23, 1999 | National | S Con Res 21 | Kosovo Resolution | Resolution Passed - Senate (58 - 41) |
| March 23, 1999 | National | S Con Res 21 | Kosovo Resolution | Resolution Passed - Senate (58 - 41) |
| Oct. 1, 1998 | National | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
| Oct. 1, 1998 | National | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
| Sept. 29, 1998 | National | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 2) |
| Sept. 29, 1998 | National | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 2) |
| Sept. 9, 1998 | National | S 1873 | American Missile Protection bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (59 - 41) |
| Sept. 1, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3506 | Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 44) |
| Sept. 1, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3506 | Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 44) |
| July 23, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3258 | Temporary Farm Workers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31) |
| July 7, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3062 | Space Station Termination Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 66) |
| June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3011 | Separate Housing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 53) |
| June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
| June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
| June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2794 | Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49) |
| June 25, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3011 | Separate Housing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 53) |
| June 24, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2912 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 31) |
| June 24, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2912 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 31) |
| May 22, 1998 | National | HR 2709 | Iran Missile Sanctions bill | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 4) |
| May 18, 1998 | National | S Amdt 2417 | U.S. Citizen Recruitment Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39) |
| May 18, 1998 | National | S 1723 | Non-Immigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
| April 30, 1998 | National | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11) |
| April 30, 1998 | National | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11) |
| April 28, 1998 | National | HR 1757 | State Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| April 28, 1998 | National | HR 1757 | State Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| March 13, 1998 | National | S Con Res 78 | Saddam Hussein War Crime Prosecution bill | Resolution Passed - Senate (93 - 0) |
| Feb. 25, 1998 | National | HR 2631 | Line Item Veto Cancellation bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
| Nov. 6, 1997 | National | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 10) |
| Nov. 6, 1997 | National | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 10) |
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| Sept. 25, 1997 | National | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| July 17, 1997 | National | S Amdt 890 | Most Favored Nation Repeal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 77) |
| July 9, 1997 | National | S Amdt 771 | Base Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 33) |
| June 19, 1997 | National | S Amdt 416 | Intelligence Appropriations Declassification amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56) |
| April 24, 1997 | National | S Res 75 | Chemical Weapons Convention bill | Resolution Passed - Senate (74 - 26) |
| April 17, 1997 | National | S 495 | Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction Act | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 44) |
| March 20, 1997 | National | S Amdt 25 | U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| March 20, 1997 | National | S Amdt 25 | U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| Sept. 10, 1996 | National | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26) |
| Sept. 10, 1996 | National | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26) |
| June 19, 1996 | National | S Amdt 4059 | Overseas Abortion Amendment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 51) |
| May 2, 1996 | National | S Amdt 3840 | Public Assistance to Legal Immigrants Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 60) |
| May 2, 1996 | National | HR 2202 | Immigration Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 3) |
| May 1, 1996 | National | S Amdt 3752 | Citizen Verification Pilot Program Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46) |
| May 1, 1996 | National | S Amdt 3780 | Asylum Seeker Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| April 30, 1996 | National | S Amdt 3820 | Legal Immigrants Assistance Eligibility Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| April 25, 1996 | National | S Amdt 3669 | Foreign Student Public Education Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 46) |
| April 25, 1996 | National | S Amdt 3670 | Foreign Student Program Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47) |
| April 17, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8) |
| April 17, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8) |
| March 28, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44) |
| March 28, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44) |
| March 5, 1996 | National | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 22) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/20 | S Amdt 3252 | Military Abortions Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 5/18 | S Amdt 3154 | Troop Withdrawal from Kosovo Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 47) |
| 5/11 | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (77 - 19) |
| 11/03 | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 19) |
| 10/15 | HR 2684 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| 10/13 | Treaty Doc. 105-28 | Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty | Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 10/13 | Treaty Doc. 105-28 | Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty | Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 10/06 | HR 2606 | Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 10/06 | HR 2606 | Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 9/22 | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| 9/22 | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| 8/05 | PN 100 | Richard Holbrooke, Representative to the United Nations | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (81 - 16) |
| 6/30 | S Amdt 1157 | Cuba Travel Ban Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (55 - 43) |
| 6/30 | S 1234 | Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| 6/30 | S 1234 | Foreign Operations FY2000 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| 5/27 | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| 5/27 | S 1059 | FY 2000 Defense Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 3) |
| 5/26 | S Amdt 393 | FY 2000 Defense Auth.--Base Closures | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 60) |
| 5/20 | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
| 5/20 | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
| 5/20 | HR 1141 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations-Conference Report | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 36) |
| 3/23 | S Con Res 21 | Kosovo Resolution | Resolution Passed - Senate (58 - 41) |
| 3/23 | S Con Res 21 | Kosovo Resolution | Resolution Passed - Senate (58 - 41) |
| 10/01 | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
| 10/01 | HR 3616 | Defense Department FY99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 2) |
| 9/29 | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 2) |
| 9/29 | HR 4103 | Defense Department FY99 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 2) |
| 9/09 | S 1873 | American Missile Protection bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (59 - 41) |
| 9/01 | S Amdt 3506 | Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 44) |
| 9/01 | S Amdt 3506 | Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 44) |
| 7/23 | S Amdt 3258 | Temporary Farm Workers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 31) |
| 7/07 | S Amdt 3062 | Space Station Termination Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 66) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 3011 | Separate Housing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 53) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 2981 | Military Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 2794 | Overseas Military Hospital Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 49) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 3011 | Separate Housing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (39 - 53) |
| 6/24 | S Amdt 2912 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 31) |
| 6/24 | S Amdt 2912 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 31) |
| 5/22 | HR 2709 | Iran Missile Sanctions bill | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 4) |
| 5/18 | S Amdt 2417 | U.S. Citizen Recruitment Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (59 - 39) |
| 5/18 | S 1723 | Non-Immigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
| 4/30 | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11) |
| 4/30 | HR 3579 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11) |
| 4/28 | HR 1757 | State Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 4/28 | HR 1757 | State Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 3/13 | S Con Res 78 | Saddam Hussein War Crime Prosecution bill | Resolution Passed - Senate (93 - 0) |
| 2/25 | HR 2631 | Line Item Veto Cancellation bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
| 11/06 | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 10) |
| 11/06 | HR 1119 | Defense Department FY98-99 Authorization bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 10) |
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| 9/25 | HR 2266 | Defense Department FY98 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
| 7/17 | S Amdt 890 | Most Favored Nation Repeal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 77) |
| 7/09 | S Amdt 771 | Base Closure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 33) |
| 6/19 | S Amdt 416 | Intelligence Appropriations Declassification amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56) |
| 4/24 | S Res 75 | Chemical Weapons Convention bill | Resolution Passed - Senate (74 - 26) |
| 4/17 | S 495 | Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction Act | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 44) |
| 3/20 | S Amdt 25 | U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| 3/20 | S Amdt 25 | U.S.- Mexico Drug Trafficking Prevention Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| 9/10 | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26) |
| 9/10 | HR 3230 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (73 - 26) |
| 6/19 | S Amdt 4059 | Overseas Abortion Amendment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 51) |
| 5/02 | S Amdt 3840 | Public Assistance to Legal Immigrants Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 60) |
| 5/02 | HR 2202 | Immigration Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 3) |
| 5/01 | S Amdt 3752 | Citizen Verification Pilot Program Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46) |
| 5/01 | S Amdt 3780 | Asylum Seeker Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49) |
| 4/30 | S Amdt 3820 | Legal Immigrants Assistance Eligibility Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 4/25 | S Amdt 3669 | Foreign Student Public Education Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 46) |
| 4/25 | S Amdt 3670 | Foreign Student Program Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47) |
| 4/17 | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8) |
| 4/17 | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 8) |
| 3/28 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44) |
| 3/28 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44) |
| 3/05 | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 22) |