National Executive Branch Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
July 26, 2012 National HR 4078 Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act Bill Passed - House (245 - 172)
Feb. 9, 2012 National S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
Feb. 8, 2012 National HR 3521 Authorizes the President to Line-Item Veto Certain Legislation Bill Passed - House (254 - 173)
Feb. 2, 2012 National S Amdt 1491 Requires Disclosure of Financial Transactions by Executive Branch Employees Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 41)
Feb. 2, 2012 National S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
Jan. 26, 2012 National H J Res 98 Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 54)
Jan. 18, 2012 National H J Res 98 Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (239 - 176)
Dec. 2, 2011 National HR 3010 Establishes Additional Requirements for Regulatory Agencies Bill Passed - House (253 - 167)
Sept. 14, 2011 National H J Res 77 Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186)
June 23, 2011 National S Amdt 499 Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
June 3, 2011 National H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
June 3, 2011 National H Res 292 Ground Forces in Libya Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145)
April 1, 2011 National HR 1255 Government Shutdown Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (221 - 202)
May 18, 2010 National S Amdt 4072 Inspector General Appointment Modification Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 21)
Sept. 15, 2009 National H Res 744 Resolution of Disapproval of Representative Joe Wilson's Conduct Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179)
Aug. 6, 2009 National PN 506 Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31)
July 9, 2008 National HR 5811 Electronic Communications Preservation Act Bill Passed - House (286 - 137)
May 22, 2007 National S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (306 - 114)
March 20, 2007 National S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5104 Military Commissions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
June 22, 2006 National HR 4890 Line Item Veto Bill Bill Passed - House (247 - 172)
Jan. 26, 2005 National PN 8 Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (85 - 13)
Nov. 19, 2002 National HR 5005 Establishing the Department of Homeland Security Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9)
July 26, 2002 National HR 5005 Establishing the Department of Homeland Security Bill Passed - House (295 - 132)
Feb. 1, 2001 National PN 107 John Ashcroft, Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42)
Jan. 30, 2001 National PN 96 Gale Ann Norton, Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (75 - 24)
Sept. 14, 1999 National S J Res 33 Puerto Rican Nationals resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (95 - 2)
Sept. 9, 1999 National H Con Res 180 Puerto Rican Nationals resolution Resolution Passed - House (311 - 41)
Aug. 5, 1999 National PN 100 Richard Holbrooke, Representative to the United Nations Nomination Confirmed - Senate (81 - 16)
Feb. 12, 1999 National H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Failed - Senate (50 - 50)
Feb. 12, 1999 National H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Failed - Senate (45 - 55)
Dec. 19, 1998 National H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Failed - House (205 - 229)
Dec. 19, 1998 National H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Passed - House (228 - 206)
Dec. 19, 1998 National H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Failed - House (148 - 285)
Dec. 19, 1998 National H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Passed - House (221 - 212)
Sept. 25, 1998 National HR 2621 Reciprocal Trade Agreement Bill Bill Failed - House (180 - 243)
June 25, 1998 National S Amdt 2981 Military Closure Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45)
June 24, 1998 National S Amdt 2912 Bosnia and Herzegovina Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 31)
March 18, 1998 National H Con Res 227 Bosnia and Herzegovina U.S. Troop Removal Resolution Resolution Failed - House (193 - 225)
Feb. 25, 1998 National HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
Feb. 10, 1998 National PN 623 David Satcher, Surgeon General of the Public Health Service Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 35)
Feb. 5, 1998 National HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69)
Nov. 8, 1997 National HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Bill Passed - House (352 - 64)
April 30, 1997 National PN 82 Alexis M. Herman, Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (85 - 13)
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)
March 29, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158)
March 27, 1996 National S 4 Line-Item Veto bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 31)
March 21, 1996 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 40)
Nov. 15, 1995 National HR 2020 Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 52)
Nov. 15, 1995 National HR 2020 Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - Senate (63 - 35)
July 19, 1995 National HR 2020 Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service Bill Passed - House (216 - 211)
June 22, 1995 National PN 245 Henry W. Foster Jr., Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 43)
May 10, 1995 National HR 956 Product Liability bill Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
March 23, 1995 National S 4 Line-Item Veto bill Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
Feb. 6, 1995 National HR 2 Line Item Veto Act Bill Passed - House (294 - 134)
June 29, 1994 National S Amdt 2117 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65)
June 9, 1994 National H Amdt 611 Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178)
Feb. 10, 1994 National H Amdt 436 Bryant Amendment to Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1993 Amendment Adopted - House (230 - 188)
Oct. 1, 1992 National HR 5318 Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China Veto Override Failed - Senate (59 - 40)
Sept. 30, 1992 National HR 5318 Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China Veto Override Passed - House (345 - 74)
July 21, 1992 National HR 5318 Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China Bill Passed - House (339 - 62)
Date No. Title Outcome
7/26 HR 4078 Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act Bill Passed - House (245 - 172)
2/09 S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - House (417 - 2)
2/08 HR 3521 Authorizes the President to Line-Item Veto Certain Legislation Bill Passed - House (254 - 173)
2/02 S Amdt 1491 Requires Disclosure of Financial Transactions by Executive Branch Employees Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 41)
2/02 S 2038 Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3)
1/26 H J Res 98 Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 54)
1/18 H J Res 98 Disapproval of President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (239 - 176)
12/02 HR 3010 Establishes Additional Requirements for Regulatory Agencies Bill Passed - House (253 - 167)
9/14 H J Res 77 Disapproval of the President's Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed - House (232 - 186)
6/23 S Amdt 499 Prohibits the Appointment of Presidential "Czars" Without Senate Approval Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
6/03 H Con Res 51 Removing Armed Forces from Libya Joint Resolution Failed - House (148 - 265)
6/03 H Res 292 Ground Forces in Libya Resolution Passed - House (268 - 145)
4/01 HR 1255 Government Shutdown Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (221 - 202)
5/18 S Amdt 4072 Inspector General Appointment Modification Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 21)
9/15 H Res 744 Resolution of Disapproval of Representative Joe Wilson's Conduct Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179)
8/06 PN 506 Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31)
7/09 HR 5811 Electronic Communications Preservation Act Bill Passed - House (286 - 137)
5/22 S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (306 - 114)
3/20 S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
9/28 S Amdt 5104 Military Commissions Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52)
6/22 HR 4890 Line Item Veto Bill Bill Passed - House (247 - 172)
1/26 PN 8 Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (85 - 13)
11/19 HR 5005 Establishing the Department of Homeland Security Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 9)
7/26 HR 5005 Establishing the Department of Homeland Security Bill Passed - House (295 - 132)
2/01 PN 107 John Ashcroft, Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42)
1/30 PN 96 Gale Ann Norton, Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (75 - 24)
9/14 S J Res 33 Puerto Rican Nationals resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (95 - 2)
9/09 H Con Res 180 Puerto Rican Nationals resolution Resolution Passed - House (311 - 41)
8/05 PN 100 Richard Holbrooke, Representative to the United Nations Nomination Confirmed - Senate (81 - 16)
2/12 H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Failed - Senate (50 - 50)
2/12 H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Failed - Senate (45 - 55)
12/19 H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Failed - House (205 - 229)
12/19 H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Passed - House (228 - 206)
12/19 H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Failed - House (148 - 285)
12/19 H Res 611 Impeachment Resolution: Article One Resolution Passed - House (221 - 212)
9/25 HR 2621 Reciprocal Trade Agreement Bill Bill Failed - House (180 - 243)
6/25 S Amdt 2981 Military Closure Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (48 - 45)
6/24 S Amdt 2912 Bosnia and Herzegovina Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 31)
3/18 H Con Res 227 Bosnia and Herzegovina U.S. Troop Removal Resolution Resolution Failed - House (193 - 225)
2/25 HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
2/10 PN 623 David Satcher, Surgeon General of the Public Health Service Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 35)
2/05 HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Veto Override Passed - House (347 - 69)
11/08 HR 2631 Line Item Veto Cancellation bill Bill Passed - House (352 - 64)
4/30 PN 82 Alexis M. Herman, Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (85 - 13)
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)
3/29 HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 158)
3/27 S 4 Line-Item Veto bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 31)
3/21 HR 956 Product Liability bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 40)
11/15 HR 2020 Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 52)
11/15 HR 2020 Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service Conference Report Adopted - Senate (63 - 35)
7/19 HR 2020 Appropriations bill FY96, Treasury, Postal Service Bill Passed - House (216 - 211)
6/22 PN 245 Henry W. Foster Jr., Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 43)
5/10 HR 956 Product Liability bill Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
3/23 S 4 Line-Item Veto bill Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 29)
2/06 HR 2 Line Item Veto Act Bill Passed - House (294 - 134)
6/29 S Amdt 2117 Military Operations in Haiti Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 65)
6/09 H Amdt 611 Lifting Arms Embargo on Bosnia Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (244 - 178)
2/10 H Amdt 436 Bryant Amendment to Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1993 Amendment Adopted - House (230 - 188)
10/01 HR 5318 Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China Veto Override Failed - Senate (59 - 40)
9/30 HR 5318 Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China Veto Override Passed - House (345 - 74)
7/21 HR 5318 Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China Bill Passed - House (339 - 62)

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