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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 1, 2013 | National | H J Res 71 | District of Columbia Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (265 - 163) |
| Oct. 1, 2013 | National | H J Res 72 | Veterans Benefits Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (264 - 164) |
| Sept. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| Sept. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (228 - 201) |
| Sept. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| Sept. 29, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (248 - 174) |
| Sept. 27, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44) |
| Sept. 20, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (230 - 189) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | National | HR 2775 | No Subsidies Without Verification Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 191) |
| May 9, 2013 | National | HR 807 | Full Faith and Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 207) |
| March 14, 2013 | National | S Amdt 66 | Temporarily Prohibits the Hiring of Nonessential Federal Employees | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54) |
| Feb. 15, 2013 | National | HR 273 | Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees | Bill Passed - House (261 - 154) |
| Dec. 20, 2012 | National | HR 6684 | Spending Reduction Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (215 - 209) |
| Dec. 3, 2009 | National | HR 4154 | Estate Tax Law Amendments and Reinstatement of PAYGO | Bill Passed - House (225 - 200) |
| July 21, 2009 | National | S Amdt 1469 | Repealing Funding for F-22 Aircraft Procurement | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 40) |
| July 26, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13) |
| July 23, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152) |
| May 8, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (322 - 94) |
| Aug. 4, 2007 | National | HR 3221 | Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 172) |
| Dec. 21, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (51 - 50) |
| Nov. 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2602 | Hurricane Victims Tax Benefit Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 55) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2351 | Pay As You Go Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 49) |
| July 29, 2005 | National | HR 3 | Transportation Authorization Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4) |
| July 29, 2005 | National | HR 3 | Transportation Authorization Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (412 - 8) |
| May 17, 2005 | National | HR 3 | Transportation Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 11) |
| March 10, 2005 | National | HR 3 | Transportation Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (417 - 9) |
| Nov. 20, 2003 | National | HR 2417 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (264 - 163) |
| Nov. 18, 2003 | National | HR 2754 | Energy and Water Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (387 - 36) |
| Oct. 16, 2003 | National | H Res 198 | Iraq's Reconstruction Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (394 - 31) |
| April 11, 2003 | National | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50) |
| April 11, 2003 | National | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 211) |
| March 26, 2003 | National | S Con Res 23 | Budget Resolution FY2004 | Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 44) |
| March 21, 2003 | National | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Resolution Passed - House (215 - 212) |
| March 19, 2003 | National | S Amdt 272 | ANWR Oil Drilling Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 48) |
| Feb. 13, 2003 | National | H J Res 2 | Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (338 - 83) |
| Feb. 13, 2003 | National | H J Res 2 | Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 20) |
| Dec. 19, 2001 | National | HR 2506 | Foreign Operations FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 66) |
| Dec. 7, 2001 | National | HR 2944 | District of Columbia FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 20) |
| Dec. 6, 2001 | National | HR 2944 | District of Columbia FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (302 - 84) |
| Dec. 4, 2001 | National | HR 2299 | Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (97 - 2) |
| Nov. 30, 2001 | National | HR 2299 | Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (371 - 11) |
| Nov. 15, 2001 | National | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7) |
| Nov. 13, 2001 | National | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (379 - 33) |
| Nov. 8, 2001 | National | HR 2620 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (401 - 18) |
| Nov. 8, 2001 | National | HR 2620 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 7) |
| Nov. 1, 2001 | National | HR 2647 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 52) |
| July 20, 2001 | National | HR 2216 | 2001 Supplemental Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (375 - 30) |
| May 10, 2001 | National | H Con Res 83 | Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 47) |
| May 9, 2001 | National | H Con Res 83 | Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (221 - 207) |
| Nov. 19, 1999 | National | HR 3194 | District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 24) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/01 | H J Res 71 | District of Columbia Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (265 - 163) |
| 10/01 | H J Res 72 | Veterans Benefits Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (264 - 164) |
| 9/30 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| 9/30 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (228 - 201) |
| 9/30 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| 9/29 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (248 - 174) |
| 9/27 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44) |
| 9/20 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (230 - 189) |
| 9/12 | HR 2775 | No Subsidies Without Verification Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 191) |
| 5/09 | HR 807 | Full Faith and Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 207) |
| 3/14 | S Amdt 66 | Temporarily Prohibits the Hiring of Nonessential Federal Employees | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54) |
| 2/15 | HR 273 | Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees | Bill Passed - House (261 - 154) |
| 12/20 | HR 6684 | Spending Reduction Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (215 - 209) |
| 12/03 | HR 4154 | Estate Tax Law Amendments and Reinstatement of PAYGO | Bill Passed - House (225 - 200) |
| 7/21 | S Amdt 1469 | Repealing Funding for F-22 Aircraft Procurement | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 40) |
| 7/26 | HR 3221 | Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13) |
| 7/23 | HR 3221 | Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152) |
| 5/08 | HR 3221 | Housing-Related Tax Provision Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (322 - 94) |
| 8/04 | HR 3221 | Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 172) |
| 12/21 | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (51 - 50) |
| 11/17 | S Amdt 2602 | Hurricane Victims Tax Benefit Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 55) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2351 | Pay As You Go Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 7/29 | HR 3 | Transportation Authorization Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4) |
| 7/29 | HR 3 | Transportation Authorization Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (412 - 8) |
| 5/17 | HR 3 | Transportation Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 11) |
| 3/10 | HR 3 | Transportation Authorization Bill | Bill Passed - House (417 - 9) |
| 11/20 | HR 2417 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (264 - 163) |
| 11/18 | HR 2754 | Energy and Water Appropriations, FY 2004 bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (387 - 36) |
| 10/16 | H Res 198 | Iraq's Reconstruction Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (394 - 31) |
| 4/11 | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 50) |
| 4/11 | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 211) |
| 3/26 | S Con Res 23 | Budget Resolution FY2004 | Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 44) |
| 3/21 | H Con Res 95 | Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2004 | Resolution Passed - House (215 - 212) |
| 3/19 | S Amdt 272 | ANWR Oil Drilling Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 48) |
| 2/13 | H J Res 2 | Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - House (338 - 83) |
| 2/13 | H J Res 2 | Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 20) |
| 12/19 | HR 2506 | Foreign Operations FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 66) |
| 12/07 | HR 2944 | District of Columbia FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 20) |
| 12/06 | HR 2944 | District of Columbia FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (302 - 84) |
| 12/04 | HR 2299 | Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (97 - 2) |
| 11/30 | HR 2299 | Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (371 - 11) |
| 11/15 | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 7) |
| 11/13 | HR 2330 | Agriculture FY2002 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (379 - 33) |
| 11/08 | HR 2620 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (401 - 18) |
| 11/08 | HR 2620 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 7) |
| 11/01 | HR 2647 | Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (374 - 52) |
| 7/20 | HR 2216 | 2001 Supplemental Appropriations Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (375 - 30) |
| 5/10 | H Con Res 83 | Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 47) |
| 5/09 | H Con Res 83 | Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (221 - 207) |
| 11/19 | HR 3194 | District of Columbia FY2000 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 24) |