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 21, 2007 | National | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27) |
| June 15, 2007 | National | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
| June 14, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1538 | Clean Energy Achievement Criteria | Amendment Tabled - Senate (56 - 39) |
| May 24, 2007 | National | H Amdt 1 | Departmental Appropriations for Defense, Security, and Hurricane Recovery | Amendment Adopted - House (348 - 73) |
| May 17, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| May 17, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 209) |
| May 17, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| May 17, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 209) |
| May 8, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Bill Passed - House (212 - 207) |
| May 7, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1010 | FDA Drug Import Certification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 40) |
| May 2, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Veto Override Failed - House (222 - 203) |
| April 26, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
| April 25, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 208) |
| March 29, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| March 27, 2007 | National | S Amdt 643 | Iraq Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50) |
| March 23, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| March 23, 2007 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| March 23, 2007 | National | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Bill Passed - House (218 - 212) |
| March 15, 2007 | National | S J Res 9 | United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50) |
| March 13, 2007 | National | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| Feb. 16, 2007 | National | H Con Res 63 | Iraq War Policy Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (246 - 182) |
| Jan. 18, 2007 | National | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (264 - 163) |
| Jan. 17, 2007 | National | HR 5 | College Student Relief Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (356 - 71) |
| Jan. 12, 2007 | National | HR 4 | Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act | Bill Passed - House (255 - 170) |
| Dec. 7, 2006 | National | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
| Dec. 6, 2006 | National | PN 2191 | Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (95 - 2) |
| Sept. 29, 2006 | National | HR 5441 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (412 - 6) |
| Sept. 29, 2006 | National | HR 4772 | Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (231 - 181) |
| Sept. 29, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 170) |
| Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5104 | Military Commissions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52) |
| Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
| Sept. 27, 2006 | National | HR 6166 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (253 - 168) |
| Sept. 26, 2006 | National | HR 5631 | Department Defense Appropriations Act, FY 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (394 - 22) |
| Sept. 26, 2006 | National | HR 4772 | Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2005 | Bill Failed - House (234 - 172) |
| Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4936 | National Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57) |
| Sept. 13, 2006 | National | HR 4893 | Restricting Indian Gaming to Homelands of Tribes Act | Bill Failed - House (247 - 171) |
| Sept. 7, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4909 | Media in the Middle East Amendment | Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44) |
| Sept. 6, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4882 | Cluster Munitions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (30 - 70) |
| July 27, 2006 | National | HR 4157 | Better Health Information Systems Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (270 - 148) |
| July 26, 2006 | National | HR 5682 | U.S.and India Nuclear Cooperation Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (359 - 68) |
| July 12, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4587 | Transit Security Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| July 12, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4553 | Rail and Transit Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| July 12, 2006 | National | HR 2990 | Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act | Bill Passed - House (255 - 166) |
| July 11, 2006 | National | H Amdt 1179 | Online Gambling Ban Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 297) |
| July 11, 2006 | National | HR 4411 | Internet Gambling Bill | Bill Passed - House (317 - 93) |
| June 22, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4442 | Troop Redeployment Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 86) |
| June 22, 2006 | National | S 2766 | Defense Department FY 2007 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0) |
| June 22, 2006 | National | HR 5638 | Death/Estate Tax Amendment | Bill Passed - House (269 - 156) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/21 | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27) |
| 6/15 | HR 2638 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (268 - 150) |
| 6/14 | S Amdt 1538 | Clean Energy Achievement Criteria | Amendment Tabled - Senate (56 - 39) |
| 5/24 | H Amdt 1 | Departmental Appropriations for Defense, Security, and Hurricane Recovery | Amendment Adopted - House (348 - 73) |
| 5/17 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| 5/17 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 209) |
| 5/17 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 40) |
| 5/17 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 209) |
| 5/08 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Bill Passed - House (212 - 207) |
| 5/07 | S Amdt 1010 | FDA Drug Import Certification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 40) |
| 5/02 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Veto Override Failed - House (222 - 203) |
| 4/26 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
| 4/25 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Conference Report Adopted - House (218 - 208) |
| 3/29 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| 3/27 | S Amdt 643 | Iraq Withdrawal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50) |
| 3/23 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 3/23 | S Con Res 21 | 2008 Budget Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 3/23 | HR 1591 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2007 with Iraq Withdrawal Timeline | Bill Passed - House (218 - 212) |
| 3/15 | S J Res 9 | United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50) |
| 3/13 | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| 2/16 | H Con Res 63 | Iraq War Policy Resolution | Joint Resolution Passed - House (246 - 182) |
| 1/18 | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (264 - 163) |
| 1/17 | HR 5 | College Student Relief Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (356 - 71) |
| 1/12 | HR 4 | Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act | Bill Passed - House (255 - 170) |
| 12/07 | PN 1396 | Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (80 - 11) |
| 12/06 | PN 2191 | Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (95 - 2) |
| 9/29 | HR 5441 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (412 - 6) |
| 9/29 | HR 4772 | Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (231 - 181) |
| 9/29 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 170) |
| 9/28 | S Amdt 5104 | Military Commissions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 52) |
| 9/28 | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 9/28 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
| 9/27 | HR 6166 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (253 - 168) |
| 9/26 | HR 5631 | Department Defense Appropriations Act, FY 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (394 - 22) |
| 9/26 | HR 4772 | Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2005 | Bill Failed - House (234 - 172) |
| 9/13 | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| 9/13 | S Amdt 4936 | National Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 57) |
| 9/13 | HR 4893 | Restricting Indian Gaming to Homelands of Tribes Act | Bill Failed - House (247 - 171) |
| 9/07 | S Amdt 4909 | Media in the Middle East Amendment | Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44) |
| 9/06 | S Amdt 4882 | Cluster Munitions Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (30 - 70) |
| 7/27 | HR 4157 | Better Health Information Systems Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (270 - 148) |
| 7/26 | HR 5682 | U.S.and India Nuclear Cooperation Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (359 - 68) |
| 7/12 | S Amdt 4587 | Transit Security Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 7/12 | S Amdt 4553 | Rail and Transit Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 7/12 | HR 2990 | Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act | Bill Passed - House (255 - 166) |
| 7/11 | H Amdt 1179 | Online Gambling Ban Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 297) |
| 7/11 | HR 4411 | Internet Gambling Bill | Bill Passed - House (317 - 93) |
| 6/22 | S Amdt 4442 | Troop Redeployment Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 86) |
| 6/22 | S 2766 | Defense Department FY 2007 Authorization bill | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0) |
| 6/22 | HR 5638 | Death/Estate Tax Amendment | Bill Passed - House (269 - 156) |