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 12, 1996 | National | H Con Res 178 | Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 211) |
| June 6, 1996 | National | H Amdt 1133 | Wisconsin Welfare Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| June 6, 1996 | National | HR 3562 | Wisconsin Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (289 - 136) |
| June 6, 1996 | National | H J Res 1 | Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (64 - 35) |
| May 22, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 10) |
| May 16, 1996 | National | H Con Res 178 | Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (226 - 195) |
| May 2, 1996 | National | S Amdt 3840 | Public Assistance to Legal Immigrants Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 60) |
| April 30, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
| April 30, 1996 | National | S Amdt 3820 | Legal Immigrants Assistance Eligibility Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| April 25, 1996 | National | HR 3019 | Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus | Conference Report Adopted - House (399 - 25) |
| April 25, 1996 | National | HR 3019 | Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11) |
| April 17, 1996 | National | HR 842 | Truth in Budgeting Act | Bill Passed - House (284 - 143) |
| March 28, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44) |
| March 20, 1996 | National | H Amdt 968 | Immigrant Public Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (151 - 269) |
| March 19, 1996 | National | HR 3019 | Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21) |
| March 12, 1996 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172) |
| March 7, 1996 | National | H Amdt 946 | Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 222) |
| March 7, 1996 | National | HR 3019 | Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus | Bill Passed - House (209 - 206) |
| Feb. 7, 1996 | National | S 1541 | Farm Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 32) |
| Jan. 4, 1996 | National | HR 1977 | 1996 Interior Appropriations | Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177) |
| Dec. 22, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Dec. 21, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (245 - 178) |
| Dec. 14, 1995 | National | HR 1977 | Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 40) |
| Dec. 14, 1995 | National | HR 2099 | Veterans Affairs, HUD FY '96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| Dec. 14, 1995 | National | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 16) |
| Dec. 13, 1995 | National | HR 1977 | Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (244 - 181) |
| Dec. 7, 1995 | National | HR 2076 | Appropriations bill FY96, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (50 - 48) |
| Dec. 7, 1995 | National | HR 2099 | Veterans Affairs, HUD FY '96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (227 - 190) |
| Dec. 6, 1995 | National | HR 2076 | Appropriations bill FY96, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - House (256 - 166) |
| Nov. 16, 1995 | National | H J Res 122 | Continuing Appropriation Bill | Bill Passed - House (277 - 151) |
| Nov. 16, 1995 | National | H J Res 122 | Continuing Appropriation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37) |
| 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) |
| Nov. 2, 1995 | National | HR 2546 | Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia | Bill Passed - House (224 - 191) |
| Nov. 1, 1995 | National | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 6) |
| Nov. 1, 1995 | National | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 6) |
| 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. 31, 1995 | National | HR 2492 | Appropriations Bill FY96, Legislative Branch | Bill Passed - House (315 - 106) |
| Oct. 28, 1995 | National | HR 2491 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Oct. 26, 1995 | National | HR 2491 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - House (227 - 203) |
| Oct. 12, 1995 | National | HR 1976 | Appropriations bill FY96, Agriculture | Conference Report Adopted - House (288 - 132) |
| Oct. 12, 1995 | National | HR 2405 | Omnibus Civilian Science Authorization Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (248 - 161) |
| Sept. 20, 1995 | National | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
| Sept. 19, 1995 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| Aug. 4, 1995 | National | HR 2127 | Appropriations bill FY96, Labor, HHS, Education | Bill Passed - House (219 - 208) |
| Aug. 3, 1995 | National | H Amdt 725 | Corporation for Public Broadcasting Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (136 - 286) |
| July 31, 1995 | National | HR 2099 | Veterans Affairs, HUD FY '96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (228 - 193) |
| July 26, 1995 | National | HR 2076 | Appropriations bill FY96, Commerce, Justice, State | Bill Passed - House (272 - 151) |
| July 21, 1995 | National | HR 1944 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 7) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/12 | H Con Res 178 | Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (216 - 211) |
| 6/06 | H Amdt 1133 | Wisconsin Welfare Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| 6/06 | HR 3562 | Wisconsin Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (289 - 136) |
| 6/06 | H J Res 1 | Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (64 - 35) |
| 5/22 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - House (414 - 10) |
| 5/16 | H Con Res 178 | Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution | Resolution Passed - House (226 - 195) |
| 5/02 | S Amdt 3840 | Public Assistance to Legal Immigrants Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 60) |
| 4/30 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Veto Override Failed - House (234 - 188) |
| 4/30 | S Amdt 3820 | Legal Immigrants Assistance Eligibility Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 4/25 | HR 3019 | Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus | Conference Report Adopted - House (399 - 25) |
| 4/25 | HR 3019 | Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 11) |
| 4/17 | HR 842 | Truth in Budgeting Act | Bill Passed - House (284 - 143) |
| 3/28 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 44) |
| 3/20 | H Amdt 968 | Immigrant Public Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (151 - 269) |
| 3/19 | HR 3019 | Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21) |
| 3/12 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (226 - 172) |
| 3/07 | H Amdt 946 | Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (198 - 222) |
| 3/07 | HR 3019 | Appropriations bill FY96, Omnibus | Bill Passed - House (209 - 206) |
| 2/07 | S 1541 | Farm Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 32) |
| 1/04 | HR 1977 | 1996 Interior Appropriations | Veto Override Failed - House (239 - 177) |
| 12/22 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 12/21 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (245 - 178) |
| 12/14 | HR 1977 | Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (58 - 40) |
| 12/14 | HR 2099 | Veterans Affairs, HUD FY '96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| 12/14 | HR 1561 | Authorization bill, FY96-97, Foreign Relations | Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 16) |
| 12/13 | HR 1977 | Interior Department FY96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (244 - 181) |
| 12/07 | HR 2076 | Appropriations bill FY96, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (50 - 48) |
| 12/07 | HR 2099 | Veterans Affairs, HUD FY '96 Appropriations bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (227 - 190) |
| 12/06 | HR 2076 | Appropriations bill FY96, Commerce, Justice, State | Conference Report Adopted - House (256 - 166) |
| 11/16 | H J Res 122 | Continuing Appropriation Bill | Bill Passed - House (277 - 151) |
| 11/16 | H J Res 122 | Continuing Appropriation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37) |
| 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) |
| 11/02 | HR 2546 | Appropriations Bill FY 96, District of Columbia | Bill Passed - House (224 - 191) |
| 11/01 | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 6) |
| 11/01 | HR 1868 | Appropriations bill, FY96, Foreign Relations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (90 - 6) |
| 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) |
| 10/31 | HR 2492 | Appropriations Bill FY96, Legislative Branch | Bill Passed - House (315 - 106) |
| 10/28 | HR 2491 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 10/26 | HR 2491 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Bill Passed - House (227 - 203) |
| 10/12 | HR 1976 | Appropriations bill FY96, Agriculture | Conference Report Adopted - House (288 - 132) |
| 10/12 | HR 2405 | Omnibus Civilian Science Authorization Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - House (248 - 161) |
| 9/20 | H Amdt 814 | Drinking and Driving Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 203) |
| 9/19 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| 8/04 | HR 2127 | Appropriations bill FY96, Labor, HHS, Education | Bill Passed - House (219 - 208) |
| 8/03 | H Amdt 725 | Corporation for Public Broadcasting Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (136 - 286) |
| 7/31 | HR 2099 | Veterans Affairs, HUD FY '96 Appropriations bill | Bill Passed - House (228 - 193) |
| 7/26 | HR 2076 | Appropriations bill FY96, Commerce, Justice, State | Bill Passed - House (272 - 151) |
| 7/21 | HR 1944 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 7) |