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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Feb. 13, 2025 National PN 11-12 Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture Nomination Confirmed - Senate (72 - 28)
Feb. 13, 2025 National PN 11-18 Nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 43)
Feb. 13, 2025 National PN 11-9 Nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 45)
Feb. 12, 2025 National PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
Feb. 12, 2025 National PN 11-8 Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
Feb. 10, 2025 National PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-18 Nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration Motion Agreed - Senate (53 - 45)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-12 Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-9 Nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-8 Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 5, 2025 National PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 44)
Feb. 5, 2025 National PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
Feb. 4, 2025 National PN 11-2 Nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 46)
Feb. 4, 2025 National PN 11-5 Nomination of Douglas Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (77 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2025 National PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
Feb. 3, 2025 National PN 11-2 Nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 3, 2025 National PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Motion Agreed - Senate (51 - 46)
Jan. 30, 2025 National PN 11-3 Nomination of Douglas Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (79 - 18)
Jan. 30, 2025 National PN 11-15 Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 38)
Jan. 30, 2025 National PN 11-5 Nomination of Douglas Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs Cloture Invoked - Senate (83 - 13)
Jan. 30, 2025 National PN 11-15 Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 35)
Jan. 29, 2025 National PN 11-23 Nomination of Lee Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 42)
Jan. 29, 2025 National PN 11-23 Nomination of Lee Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
Jan. 28, 2025 National PN 11-6 Nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation Nomination Confirmed - Senate (77 - 22)
Jan. 27, 2025 National PN 11-1 Nomination of Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 29)
Jan. 27, 2025 National PN 11-6 Nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation Cloture Invoked - Senate (97 - 0)
Jan. 25, 2025 National PN 11-11 Nomination of Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 34)
Jan. 25, 2025 National PN 11-1 Nomination of Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 23)
Jan. 24, 2025 National PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 50)
Jan. 24, 2025 National PN 11-11 Nomination of Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39)
Jan. 23, 2025 National PN 11-19 Nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (74 - 25)
Jan. 23, 2025 National PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 49)
Jan. 23, 2025 National PN 11-19 Nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (72 - 26)
Jan. 21, 2025 National PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Motion Agreed - Senate (53 - 47)
Jan. 21, 2025 National PN 11-19 Nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46)
Jan. 20, 2025 National PN 11-13 Nomination of Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (99 - 0)
Nov. 13, 2024 National PN 923 Nomination of David Huitema to be Director of the Office of Government Ethics Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 46)
Sept. 24, 2024 National PN 1342 Nomination of Michael Sfraga of Alaska to be Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 36)
Nov. 15, 2022 National S J Res 63 A joint resolution relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020. Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
Feb. 14, 2022 National PN 1593 Nomination of Robert Califf as Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (49 - 45)
July 20, 2021 National PN 126 Nomination of Jennifer Abruzzo as General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50)
June 22, 2021 National PN 220 Nomination of Kiran Ahuja to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50)
May 25, 2021 National PN 124 Nomation of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as the Adminstor of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 44)
May 13, 2021 National PN 244 Nomination of Amber McReynolds as Governor of the United States Postal Service Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 38)
May 12, 2021 National PN 245 Nomination of Ronald Stroman as Governor of the United States Postal Service Nomination Confirmed - Senate (66 - 32)
April 21, 2021 National PN 79-4 Nomination of Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 24, 2021 National PN 121 Nomination of Rachel Levine as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
March 23, 2021 National PN 79-11 Nomination of Vivek Murphy as Medical Director in the Regular Corps and Surgeon General of the General Public Health Service Nomination Confirmed - Senate (57 - 43)
March 23, 2021 National PN 79-13 Nomination of Shalanda Young as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 37)
March 18, 2021 National PN 78-2 Nomination of Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 49)
March 15, 2021 National PN 78-11 Nomination of Debra Haaland as Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 40)
March 10, 2021 National PN 78-6 Nomination of Marcia Fudge as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (66 - 34)
March 10, 2021 National PN 78-16 Nomination of Michael Regan as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (66 - 34)
March 10, 2021 National PN 78-7 Nomination of Merrick Garland as Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
March 2, 2021 National PN 78-15 Nomination of Gina Raimondo as Secretary of Commerce Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 15)
March 1, 2021 National PN 78-5 Nomination of Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (64 - 33)
Feb. 25, 2021 National PN 78-8 Nomination of Jennifer Granholm as Secretary of Energy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (64 - 35)
Feb. 23, 2021 National PN 78-22 Nomination of Thomas J. Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture Nomination Confirmed - Senate (92 - 7)
Feb. 23, 2021 National PN 78-21 Nomination of Linda Thomas-Greenfield as Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 21)
Feb. 13, 2021 National H Res 24 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors Resolution Failed - Senate (57 - 43)
Feb. 9, 2021 National N/A On the Motion "Is Former President Donald John Trump Subject to a Court of Impeachment for Acts Committed While President?" Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 44)
Feb. 8, 2021 National PN 78-14 Nomination of Denis McDonough as Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (87 - 7)
Feb. 2, 2021 National PN 78-13 Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
Feb. 2, 2021 National PN 78-4 Nomination of Peter Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation Nomination Confirmed - Senate (86 - 13)
Jan. 26, 2021 National PN 78-3 Nomination of Antony Blinken as Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 22)
Jan. 25, 2021 National PN 78-24 Nomination of Janet Yellen as Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 15)
Jan. 22, 2021 National PN 78-1 Nomination of Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (93 - 2)
Jan. 20, 2021 National PN 78-10 Nomination of Avril Haines as the Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 10)
May 21, 2020 National PN 1615 Nomination of John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44)
Feb. 5, 2020 National H Res 755 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors Bill Failed - Senate (47 - 53)
Feb. 5, 2020 National H Res 755 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors Bill Failed - Senate (48 - 52)
Jan. 31, 2020 National S Amdt 1298 Requires the US Chief Justice to rule on motions to subpoena witnesses and documents and issues of privilege Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
Jan. 31, 2020 National S Res 488 A resolution to provide for related procedures concerning the articles of impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/13 PN 11-12 Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture Nomination Confirmed - Senate (72 - 28)
2/13 PN 11-18 Nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 43)
2/13 PN 11-9 Nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 45)
2/12 PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
2/12 PN 11-8 Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
2/10 PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
2/06 PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
2/06 PN 11-18 Nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration Motion Agreed - Senate (53 - 45)
2/06 PN 11-12 Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
2/06 PN 11-9 Nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
2/06 PN 11-8 Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 47)
2/06 PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
2/05 PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 44)
2/05 PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
2/04 PN 11-2 Nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 46)
2/04 PN 11-5 Nomination of Douglas Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (77 - 23)
2/04 PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
2/03 PN 11-2 Nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
2/03 PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Motion Agreed - Senate (51 - 46)
1/30 PN 11-3 Nomination of Douglas Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (79 - 18)
1/30 PN 11-15 Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 38)
1/30 PN 11-5 Nomination of Douglas Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs Cloture Invoked - Senate (83 - 13)
1/30 PN 11-15 Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 35)
1/29 PN 11-23 Nomination of Lee Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 42)
1/29 PN 11-23 Nomination of Lee Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
1/28 PN 11-6 Nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation Nomination Confirmed - Senate (77 - 22)
1/27 PN 11-1 Nomination of Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 29)
1/27 PN 11-6 Nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation Cloture Invoked - Senate (97 - 0)
1/25 PN 11-11 Nomination of Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 34)
1/25 PN 11-1 Nomination of Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 23)
1/24 PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 50)
1/24 PN 11-11 Nomination of Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39)
1/23 PN 11-19 Nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (74 - 25)
1/23 PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 49)
1/23 PN 11-19 Nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (72 - 26)
1/21 PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Motion Agreed - Senate (53 - 47)
1/21 PN 11-19 Nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46)
1/20 PN 11-13 Nomination of Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (99 - 0)
11/13 PN 923 Nomination of David Huitema to be Director of the Office of Government Ethics Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 46)
9/24 PN 1342 Nomination of Michael Sfraga of Alaska to be Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 36)
11/15 S J Res 63 A joint resolution relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020. Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
2/14 PN 1593 Nomination of Robert Califf as Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (49 - 45)
7/20 PN 126 Nomination of Jennifer Abruzzo as General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50)
6/22 PN 220 Nomination of Kiran Ahuja to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50)
5/25 PN 124 Nomation of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as the Adminstor of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 44)
5/13 PN 244 Nomination of Amber McReynolds as Governor of the United States Postal Service Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 38)
5/12 PN 245 Nomination of Ronald Stroman as Governor of the United States Postal Service Nomination Confirmed - Senate (66 - 32)
4/21 PN 79-4 Nomination of Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/24 PN 121 Nomination of Rachel Levine as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
3/23 PN 79-11 Nomination of Vivek Murphy as Medical Director in the Regular Corps and Surgeon General of the General Public Health Service Nomination Confirmed - Senate (57 - 43)
3/23 PN 79-13 Nomination of Shalanda Young as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 37)
3/18 PN 78-2 Nomination of Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 49)
3/15 PN 78-11 Nomination of Debra Haaland as Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 40)
3/10 PN 78-6 Nomination of Marcia Fudge as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (66 - 34)
3/10 PN 78-16 Nomination of Michael Regan as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (66 - 34)
3/10 PN 78-7 Nomination of Merrick Garland as Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
3/02 PN 78-15 Nomination of Gina Raimondo as Secretary of Commerce Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 15)
3/01 PN 78-5 Nomination of Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (64 - 33)
2/25 PN 78-8 Nomination of Jennifer Granholm as Secretary of Energy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (64 - 35)
2/23 PN 78-22 Nomination of Thomas J. Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture Nomination Confirmed - Senate (92 - 7)
2/23 PN 78-21 Nomination of Linda Thomas-Greenfield as Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 21)
2/13 H Res 24 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors Resolution Failed - Senate (57 - 43)
2/09 N/A On the Motion "Is Former President Donald John Trump Subject to a Court of Impeachment for Acts Committed While President?" Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 44)
2/08 PN 78-14 Nomination of Denis McDonough as Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (87 - 7)
2/02 PN 78-13 Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
2/02 PN 78-4 Nomination of Peter Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation Nomination Confirmed - Senate (86 - 13)
1/26 PN 78-3 Nomination of Antony Blinken as Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (78 - 22)
1/25 PN 78-24 Nomination of Janet Yellen as Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 15)
1/22 PN 78-1 Nomination of Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (93 - 2)
1/20 PN 78-10 Nomination of Avril Haines as the Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 10)
5/21 PN 1615 Nomination of John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44)
2/05 H Res 755 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors Bill Failed - Senate (47 - 53)
2/05 H Res 755 Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors Bill Failed - Senate (48 - 52)
1/31 S Amdt 1298 Requires the US Chief Justice to rule on motions to subpoena witnesses and documents and issues of privilege Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
1/31 S Res 488 A resolution to provide for related procedures concerning the articles of impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49)

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