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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
July 13, 2006 | MA | H 126 | Unsigned Political Posters | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
June 28, 2006 | NH | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Veto Override Failed - Senate (11 - 11) |
June 21, 2006 | PA | HB 2381 | Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
June 21, 2006 | NY | S 8446 | DNA Database Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2) |
June 6, 2006 | MI | HB 5143 | "Self-Defense Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
May 24, 2006 | OK | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10) |
May 23, 2006 | LA | SB 347 | Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
May 10, 2006 | KS | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9) |
May 8, 2006 | CO | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
May 4, 2006 | CO | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
May 3, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
May 3, 2006 | RI | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
May 2, 2006 | HI | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
April 27, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
April 27, 2006 | CA | SCR 113 | The Great American Boycott 2006 | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
April 20, 2006 | CO | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
April 20, 2006 | MN | SF 1070 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20) |
April 17, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
April 6, 2006 | NH | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
March 28, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
March 27, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
March 22, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
March 16, 2006 | NH | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
March 16, 2006 | CO | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15) |
March 14, 2006 | IN | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
March 10, 2006 | CO | Amendment L.004 | Balanced Teaching Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 20) |
March 10, 2006 | CO | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
March 2, 2006 | National | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
March 2, 2006 | GA | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13) |
March 2, 2006 | IN | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
March 1, 2006 | ID | SJR 106 | Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16) |
March 1, 2006 | UT | HB 328 | Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
Feb. 28, 2006 | CO | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Feb. 23, 2006 | UT | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
Feb. 15, 2006 | ID | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
Feb. 9, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
Jan. 27, 2006 | MS | HB 409 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
Jan. 27, 2006 | WA | Sub HB 2661 | Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
Jan. 25, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
Jan. 24, 2006 | IN | SB 88 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
9/28 | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
9/28 | S Amdt 5087 | Habeas Review Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
9/28 | S 3930 | Military Commissions Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
7/13 | H 126 | Unsigned Political Posters | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
6/28 | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Veto Override Failed - Senate (11 - 11) |
6/21 | HB 2381 | Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
6/21 | S 8446 | DNA Database Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2) |
6/06 | HB 5143 | "Self-Defense Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
5/24 | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10) |
5/23 | SB 347 | Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
5/10 | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 9) |
5/08 | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
5/04 | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
5/03 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
5/03 | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
5/02 | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
4/27 | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
4/27 | SCR 113 | The Great American Boycott 2006 | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
4/20 | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
4/20 | SF 1070 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20) |
4/17 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
4/06 | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
3/28 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
3/27 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
3/22 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
3/16 | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
3/16 | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15) |
3/14 | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
3/10 | Amendment L.004 | Balanced Teaching Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 20) |
3/10 | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
3/02 | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 10) |
3/02 | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 13) |
3/02 | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
3/01 | SJR 106 | Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16) |
3/01 | HB 328 | Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
2/28 | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
2/23 | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
2/15 | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
2/09 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
1/27 | HB 409 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
1/27 | Sub HB 2661 | Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
1/25 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
1/24 | SB 88 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |