OUT OF DATE AS OF January 2013. 2013-14 CATEGORIES LOCATED AT Categories1
Here is our "final" list of categories with definitions. We are waiting on feedback from Brent Steel on what to call the Indigenous Peoples category.
Abortion
This category contains bills that specifically affect the abortion procedure, including parental consent and ultrasound requirements.
See also: Reproductive Issues.
Agriculture
This category is for bills that deal with agricultural concerns, such as farming, livestock, produce, and ranching bills.
Animal Rights and Wildlife
This category is for Key Votes that deal with pets and livestock, as well as fish and game, endangered species, and other wildlife issues.
Arts and Humanities
This category is for bills such as sports or funding for the arts.
Budget, Spending and Taxes
This category includes all budget bills, spending or appropriations bills, and all bills dealing with tax changes.
Business and Consumers
This category is for bills that deal with changes in business regulations or taxes placed on businesses, especially when they affect the general public or Key Votes dealing with consumer protections and rights such as product safety, credit, and manufacturer liability.
Campaign Finance and Elections
This category includes votes on bills relating to election laws, requirements to run for office, voting requirements, primary dates, and regulations on campaign finances.
Civil Rights and Liberties
This category covers legislation relating to the freedoms ensured by the Bill of Rights, personal freedoms, and individuals' means of participating in society, such as voting rights.
Congressional/Legislative Affairs
This category is for votes on bills relating to benefits and restrictions Congress or a state legislature imposes on itself, including pay, ethics standards, and authority. It also includes votes regarding campaign regulations explicitly on Congressional and legislative candidates.
Crime
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with domestic crime, law enforcement, and drug issues.
Death Penalty
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with the death penalty including official procedures for executions and banning execution by the state.
Defense
This category is for bills dealing with US defense, such as defense spending and policy and military issues.
Drug Issues
This category is for bills dealing with non-legal drugs, legalizing drugs, or abuse of drugs. Does not include prescription health care.
Education
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with educational standards, policies, and funding.
Energy
This category deals with bills related to energy topics such as utility regulations, drilling for oil, incentives for cleaner energy, and emissions standards.
Environment
This category is for bills involving issues such as emissions standards, conservation, wilderness preservation, water and air quality regulations, and water supplies.
Executive Branch
This category contains votes relating to the Executive Branch, such as confirmation or impeachment. It also contains votes on bills that affect the powers of the Executive.
Families and Children
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with issues directly affecting families, children's health care, childcare, and rights of minors.
Federal, State and Local Relations
This category is for bills that deal with conflicts or changes of jurisdiction between the federal, state, and local levels of government.
Foreign Policy
This category is for bills dealing with US relations and policies with foreign nations.
Gambling and Gaming
This category is for votes on bills relating to legalizing, licensing, regulating, restricting, or banning any form of gambling or gaming.
Gun Issues
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with purchasing, registering, carrying, and using firearms.
Health
This category includes votes on bills relating to prescription drugs, healthcare programs, healthcare reform, and other health-related issues.
Housing and Property
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with the transfer of land, eminent domain, building standards, affordable housing, and property taxes.
Immigration
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with requirements for immigration, border security, public benefits for undocumented immigrants, official language bills, and proof of citizenship or identification requirements.
Indigenous Issues
This category contains votes that affect relationships between the state or federal government and Native Americans/American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Native Alaskans. It covers casino issues and regulation of tribal governments.
Labor
This category contains issues related to labor, such as trade unions, pensions, wages, and employment.
Legal Issues
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with lawsuits, eminent domain, and judicial practices or procedures.
National Security
This category includes votes that address regulations or other affairs related to the Department of Homeland Security. It also includes votes that directly affect customs regulations. This category excludes immigration and other votes unless the legislation addresses national security explicitly.
Reproductive Issues
This category includes bills on issues related to the reproductive system, including abortion, contraception, and sex education.
Science and Medical
This category is for bills that deal with science or medical research issues.
Senior Citizens and Social Security
This category is for bills dealing with senior issues such as pensions, or with amending social security.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with sexual orientation and gender identity, such as civil unions and Constitutional amendments defining marriage.
Social Issues
This category is for current issues that do not fit into any already existing category.
Stem Cell Research
This category includes Key Votes on bills funding, restricting, or prohibiting stem cell research. It also contains some bills relating to human cloning, depending upon whether the bill specifically mentions stem cells.
Technology and Communication
This category includes votes that affect regulations of new types of technology and their uses, as well as regulations of communication.
Trade
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with interstate trade and trade between the United States and other nations.
Transportation
This category encompasses Key Votes relating to highways, aviation, shipping, and other transportation concerns.
Veterans
This category covers Key Votes affecting veterans' healthcare and benefits.
Welfare and Poverty
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with public benefits to low-income people, Medicaid, and affordable housing.
Women's Issues
This category includes all Key Votes dealing with workplace discrimination, sexual assault, and women's health issues such as requiring human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations.
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