Variable Codebook
Rohde/PIPC House Roll Call Database
83rd – 110th Congresses
Last updated – June 25, 2010
CONG
SESSION
YEAR
V1EX
V1
VOTEVIEW
V1Q
VOTE
ISSUE
PRES
REVOTE
TOTAL
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
V7
V8
V9
V10
V11
V12
V13
V14
V15
V16
V17
V18
V19
BILLTYPE1-6
BILLNUM1-6
Congress number
Session number
Year
Vote Roll Call (numbered within each session and identical to the CQ roll call books)
Vote Roll Call (numbered using the numbering scheme of the CQ roll call books; however, this
variable is numbered continuously within each congress1)
Vote number corresponds to the vote number in the Roll Call Data files on Voteview
For the 109th & 110th only - corresponds to CQ roll call book and Voteview Dictionary files
where quorums are now included2)
Vote type (see attached codebook)
Issue on which vote is take (see attached codebook)
Presidential position (0 = No position; 1 = Aye; 2 = Nay – from CQ)
Coded 1 if separate vote was requested (variable covers the 102nd – 105th Congresses)
Total number of votes
Total number of Aye votes
Total number of Nay votes
Total Number of Democratic Aye Votes
Total Number of Democratic Nay Votes
Total Number of Republican Aye Votes
Total Number of Republican Nay Votes
Total Number of Northern Democratic Aye Votes
Total Number of Northern Democratic Nay Votes
Total Number of Southern Democratic Aye Votes
Total Number of Southern Democratic Nay Votes
Total Number of Northern Republican Aye Votes
Total Number of Northern Republican Nay Votes
Total Number of Southern Republican Aye Votes
Total Number of Southern Republican Nay Votes
Presence of a Party Unity Vote (majority of one party opposing a majority of the other)
Presence of a Conservative Coalition Vote (majority of Republicans and a majority of southern
Democrats opposing a majority of northern Democrats)
Presence of a Near Unanimous Vote (90% or more voting one way)
Presence of a ND/R Vote (majority of northern Dems opposing a majority of Republicans)
Bill type(s) (i.e. H.R., H. Res., H. Concurrent Res., S., etc…)
Number(s) assigned to bill
1
While CQ codes roll call votes within each session, this variable continues the count over the entire congress. For example, if
the first session has 500 votes, this variable will not restart numbering at the beginning of the second session.
2
While quorums are now included in the CQ Roll Call book and in the Voteview “Definition” files, they are excluded from the
Voteview “Roll Call” Files
1
VOTE TYPE CODING
1
9
Amendments to the Constitution (usually titled a Joint Resolution)
Quorum call
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Final Passage/Adoption of a Bill
Final Passage/Adoption of Conference Report
Final Passage/Adoption of Resolution
Final Passage/Adoption of Joint Resolution
Passage/Adoption of a Bill under Suspension of the Rules
Passage/Adoption of a Joint Resolution under Suspension of the Rules
Final Passage/Adoption of Concurrent Resolution
Passage/Adoption of a Concurrent Resolution under Suspension of the Rules
Passage/Adoption of a Resolution under Suspension of the Rules
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Straight Amendments (includes en bloc & amendments in the nature of a substitute)
Amendments to Amendments
Substitute (to an amendment)
Motion to Table Amendment
Amendment to Amendment to Substitute
Perfecting Amendment
Amendment to Substitute
Perfecting Amendment to Substitute
Suspension of Rules to Amend Bill
30
31
32
33
34
Passage over Presidential Veto
Adoption of First Part of Resolution
Adoption of Second Part of Resolution
Suspension of Rules for Conference Report
Treaty Ratification
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
Judgment of the Senate
Motion to Instruct Sergeant at Arms
Motion to Suspend Senate Rules*
Motion to Extend Debate
Motion to Discharge
Point of Order
Motion to Go into Executive Committee
Unanimous Consent Motion to Table
60
61
62
63
Motion to Waive Gramm-Rudman Requirements*
Budget Waivers*
Motion to Invoke Cloture*
Motion to Reconsider
2
64
65
66
67
68
69
Motion to Waive
Confirmation
Motion to Proceed
Appeal of the Chair’s Ruling
Motion to Suspend the Rules and Concur
Miscellaneous
72
73
74
75
76
77
79
Motion to Recommit to Conference
Motion to Agree
Motion to Postpone
Motion to Delete
Motion to End Debate
Motion to Rise from the Committee of the Whole
Motion to Disagree
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
Amendment to Special Rule
Passage of Rules (Special Rule)
Motion to Recede
Motion to Commit
Motion to Consider
Demand for a Second
Motion to Permit to Read from Record
Motion to Refer
Motion to Order Previous Question (Note: Previous Question on Special Rule is 99)
Election of Speaker
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
Motion to Strike
Motion to Approve House Journal
Motion to Adjourn
Motion to Recommit (Note: Recommit to Conference is 72)
Motion to Resolve into the Committee of the Whole
Motion to Instruct Conferees
Motion to Table
Motion to Recede and Concur (also includes motion to concur)
Dispense with Further Proceedings under the Quorum Call
Previous Question on Special Rules
107
108
Motion to discharge and refer to different committee
Election of Committee Chairman
111
112
113
116
Adjourn to a day certain
Recess
Executive Session
Postpone to a day Certain
3
118
Insist and Ask
120
124
128
Ask for Further Conference with the House
Compel Attendance by Absentees
Proceed to Consideration of Conference Report
130
133
134
135
138
139
Election of Pro Tempore
Second Reading
Engrossment and Third Reading
Dispense (Suspend) with the rules (and pass) various respects.
Determine Germaneness
Insist
141
142
143
144
145
Return from the House
To Make Special Order
Remove Injunction of Secrecy
To Terminate Debate
Discharge Committee
150
155
159
Final Passage of a Private Bill
Final Passage (ratification) of resolution – treaties convention and associated protocols
Final Passage of Senate Rules
162
163
167
168
Executive Amendments
Conference Report Amendments
Adopt Part of Joint Resolution
Amend Journal / Write into the Record
171
172
To Adopt a Preamble or Section of a Bill
Final Passage of a preamble to a Resolution
180
181
183
184
185
Agree to Committee Report
Agree to a Reservation to a Resolution
Adopt Minority Report
Adopt Majority Report
Contempt of Congress
191
192
193
194
195
Rules of Evidence Impeachment
Rules of Trial Impeachment
Guilt or Innocence Impeachment
Pass order Impeachment
Amendment to Order Impeachment
4
ISSUE TYPE CODING
000’s
100’s & 200’s
300’s
400’s
500’s
600’s
700’s
800’s
900’s
Symbolic, Internal, and Procedural
Appropriations
Defense
Foreign Policy
Economy, Taxes, and Budget
Energy and Environment
Government Operations, Civil Rights, and Justice
Welfare and Human Services
Miscellaneous Domestic
000’s Symbolic, Internal, and Procedural
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
2
0
3
0
4
0
5
0
2
0
0
1
0
2
0
3
0
4
0
5
0
6
0
30’s
Confirmations
0
3
0
0
1
0
2
0
3
0
4
0
6
0
80’s
Other
0
8
0
0
1
0
2
0
90’s
Miscellaneous
0
9
0
0
1
0
2
Purely Procedural
Election of the Speaker
Indiana House Seat
Protest Procedural Votes
Committee Funding
Congressional Staff
Committee Issues
Contested Elections
Congressional Misdeeds
Contempt of Congress
Congressional Ethics
Congress Allowances/ Pay Raises
Impeachment
Buildings and Offices
House Post Office Scandal
Vice-president
Cabinet
Supreme Court
Ambassadors
Agency/ Bureau Heads, etc.
House Bank Scandal
Line Item Veto/ Rescissions
Unfunded Mandates
Regulatory Moratorium
House Rules (e.g., beginning of session)
House Powers (vis-à-vis President & Senate)
Senate Rules
5
0
9
Symbolic Miscellaneous
100 and 200’s Appropriations
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
00’s
0
10’s
1
20’s
2
30’s
3
40’s
Commerce, Justice, State, Judiciary, and Related Issues
0
Final Passage
1
Foreign Economic Aid
2
Foreign Military Aid
3
Abortion
4
Commerce
5
Justice
6
State
7
Judiciary
8
Civil Rights
9
Miscellaneous
Defense
0
Final Passage
1
Weapons General
2
MX Missile
3
VA
4
Army
5
Navy
6
Air Force
7
B1
8
Reserve Call-up
9
Miscellaneous
1
Vietnam Military
2
Troop Levels
3
SDI/ABM
4
Deployment
5
B2
6
Military War on Drugs
Energy and Water Development
0
Final Passage
1
Public Works Related
2
Energy
3
Environment
4
Energy Subsidies for Poor
5
Nuclear Energy
9
Miscellaneous
Foreign Operations
6
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
50’s
60’s
6
70’s
7
80’s
8
90’s
9
00’s
0
0
Final Passage
1
Foreign Economic Aid
2
General Aid
3
International Organizations
5
Foreign Military Aid
9
Miscellaneous
HUD and Independent Agencies (and VA since 101st)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Final Passage
Housing
NASA
AEC
Urban Aid
EPA/ Pollution
VA (Switched from DOD in 101st)
9
Miscellaneous
Interior and Related
0
Final Passage
1
Energy
2
Disaster Relief
3
Environmental
4
NEA/ Art & Indecency
9
Miscellaneous
Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education
0
Final Passage
1
Labor
2
Health
3
Human Services-Welfare
4
Education
5
Health-Social Issues (AIDS/ Abortion)
6
Civil Rights/ Segregation
9
Miscellaneous
Legislative
0
Final Passage
1
Office Buildings
2
Staff Funding
3
Committee Funding
4
Congressional Pay
9
Miscellaneous
Military Construction
0
Final Passage
9
Miscellaneous
Rural Development and Agriculture
0
Final Passage
7
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
10’s
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
50s
5
20’s
2
30’s
3
40’s
4
60’s
6
70’s
7
80’s
8
9
1
Agricultural Subsidies
2
Farm Credit
3
Soil Conservation
4
Non-Agricultural Loans
5
Food Stamps
9
Miscellaneous
Transportation (& Treasury & HUD as of 108th Congress)
0
Final Passage
1
Amtrak/Public Rail
2
Mass Transit
3
Highway Funding
4
Airport Development
5
Air Regulations
9
Miscellaneous
Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government
0
Final Passage
1
Treasury
2
Postal Service
3
General Government
4
Executive Offices
5
Salaries
6
War on Drugs
9
Miscellaneous
0
Spending Deferrals and Impoundment
0
1
9
Final Passage
Abortion
Miscellaneous
0
9
Final Passage
Miscellaneous
District of Columbia
Homeland Security
0
1
Continuing Appropriations
0
9
Omnibus
0
9
9
0
9
Aggregate Deferrals/ Rescissions
Appropriations Procedures
Final Passage
Miscellaneous
Omnibus Final Passage
Omnibus Miscellaneous
0’s Supplemental
Supplemental Final Passage
Supplemental Miscellaneous
8
300’s
Defense
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
00’s
0
Miscellaneous Defense
10’s
1
Budget/Authorization
0
1
2
9
Coast Guard
Selective Service
National Guard
Miscellaneous
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
9
Final Passage
Military Pay
Civilian Defense Pay
Procurement Budget
NATO/ Japan Burden-sharing
Vietnam
Defense and Energy
Miscellaneous
20’s & 30’s Weapons Systems
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
3
0
1
2
3
9
40’s
Veteran’s Issues
4
0
1
2
7
8
9
50’s
Pentagon Bureaucracy
5
4
5
6
7
MX Missile
Trident II
Chemical Weapons
SDI/ ABM
ASAT
B1
B2
Midgetman
Land Warfare
Aircraft
Naval Forces
General Weapons
Miscellaneous
Benefits
VA Mortgages
Military Retirement
POW Issues
Symbolic
Miscellaneous
Military Base Closures
Defense Organization and Reorganization
Espionage
Security and Civil Liberties
9
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
8
9
60’s
6
70’s
7
80’s
8
90’s
9
Military Construction/ Bases
Miscellaneous
Intelligence
0
1
2
8
9
Procurement Procedures
0
1
9
War Powers
0
1
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
NASA & AEC
0
1
2
7
8
9
Authorization
Covert Action
Oversight
Symbolic
Miscellaneous
Waste/ Mismanagement
Contracting
Miscellaneous
Committing U.S. Troops to Specific Locations
General Issue of Committing Troops
War Powers Act
Drug Interdiction
Military Assistance
Persian Gulf War
Troop Levels
Reserve Call-up
Miscellaneous
NASA Shuttle and Space Transportation
Overall NASA Spending
Department of Energy Nuclear
Nuclear Testing and Arms Control
General AEC/ IAEA
Miscellaneous
400’s Foreign Policy
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
0
10’s
1
0
1
2
7
8
9
Immigration
Embassy Regulations and Diplomatic Immunity
Foreign Loans
NATO
Central American Military Activity
Miscellaneous
0
1
2
3
4
General Foreign Aid
Foreign Economic Aid
Economic Aid to Non-governmental Groups
Foreign Aid and Family Planning
Food for Peace
Foreign Aid
10
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
6
7
8
9
20’s
2
30’s
3
40’s
4
Human Rights
0
Soviet Human Rights
1
Apartheid (Human Rights)
2
Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe
3
Economic Sanctions (Any nation)
8
Symbolic Human Rights
9
Miscellaneous Human Rights with Substantive Concerns
State Department and Other Funding
0
State Department General Funding
1
UN
2
International Financial Institutions (IMF)
3
USIA/ Radio Marti
9
Miscellaneous
Soviet Union/ Warsaw Pact
1
Economic Sanctions
2
Immigration
3
MFN Status
9
Miscellaneous
50’s
5
60’s
6
70’s
7
80’s
8
Foreign Military Aid
Military Aid to Non-governmental Groups
Peace Corps
Foreign Military Sales
Miscellaneous
0
1
2
Nuclear Technology Transfer
Military Technology Transfer
Arms Trade
0
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
SALT 2 Non-treaty
INF Treaty
Nuclear Safety (misc. nuclear)
SALT 2
Nuclear Non-proliferation
Peace Treaties
Arms Control Symbolic
Miscellaneous
0
1
2
Terrorism
Hijacking
International War on Drugs
0
1
Israel
Hostages
Arms Control
11
4
4
4
4
4
4
90’s
9
2
3
China/ Taiwan
Iraq/ Kuwait
0
1
8
Vietnam
Panama Canal
Miscellaneous Symbolic Foreign Policy
500’s Economy, Taxes, and Budget Issues
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
00’s & 10’s Taxes
0
0
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
Tax Overhaul
Tax Cuts
Tax Increase
Depletion Allowances
Windfall Profits Tax
Gas Tax
Excise Taxes
Symbolic Taxes
Miscellaneous Taxes
Capital Gains Tax
Estate Tax
0
3
4
5
6
7
9
Final Passage Budget Resolution
Budget Procedures
Budget Reconciliation
Deficit Reduction/ Balanced Budget
Gramm-Rudman (mechanisms)
Balanced Budget Amendment
Miscellaneous
0
1
2
3
4
5
Economy-Foreign Trade
0
2
3
4
5
6
7
Budget—Defense
Budget—Domestic
Budget—Foreign Policy
Budget—Taxes
Budget Authority/ Target—General
Budget—Procedural
1
20’s
2
Budget
30’s
3
Budget
40’s
4
Japanese Trade
Federal Trade Commission
Unfair Trading Practices (non-Japanese)
Export Controls
Compensation to U.S. Businesses and Workers
Export-Import Bank (later U.S. Export Bank)
Tariff Negotiations
12
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
8
9
50’s
5
60’s
6
70’s
7
Import Quotas-Tariffs
Miscellaneous
Domestic Trade
0
American Shipping
1
Commerce Regulation
2
SBA Programs
3
Business Subsidies
4
Foreign Businesses in U.S.
9
Miscellaneous
General Economy and Debt
0
Debt Limit
1
Wage and Price Control
2
Full Employment Legislation
Financial Regulation (including Stock Market)
0
Banking Regulation
1
Credit Regulation
2
Anti-Trust Issues
3
Wage and Price Control
4
Securities Regulation
5
Commodities Regulation
6
Dollar Devaluation/ Monetary Policy
7
Pensions
8
Federal Reserve
9
Miscellaneous
80’s
8
90’s
9
0
Electronic Communication Regulations and Operations
(e.g. television, radio, FCC)
0
1
2
American Investments Abroad
International Fishing and Mining
International Market Stabilization
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Natural Gas/Petrol. Pricing, Allocations/Emerg.
Natural Gas/Petroleum Marketing
Energy Regulations
National Energy Policy
Offshore Oil
Exploration and Distribution
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
600’s Energy and Environment
600-649
Energy
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
Government Controls
00’s
0
13
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
10’s
1
2
7
8
9
Alaska Pipeline
Oil Import Fee
Miscellaneous
0
0
1
0
Consumption Subsidies for Poor and Elderly
Mileage Regulations
FEA—general
Research and Development & Demonstration (e.g.
alternative fuels)
Energy Subsidies
4
650-699 Environment
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
50’s
5
60’s
6
70’s
7
8
90’s
9
Industrial Pollution
0
Industrial Waste
1
Superfund
2
Business Liability for Pollution/Oil Spill
3
Hazardous Substances
9
Miscellaneous
Major Environmental Programs
0
Clean Water Act & Water Quality
1
Water Projects (Public Works)
2
Nuclear Waste
3
Nuclear Power
4
Clean Air Act & Air Quality
5
Timber and Forestry
6
Solid & Hazardous Waste
7
Mining (e.g. Strip or Surface Mining)
8
EPA
9
Miscellaneous
Parks & Wildlife and Seashores
0
National Parks and Seashores
1
Fish & Wildlife Administration
2
Businesses on Public Land
3
Transfer of Public Lands
4
Endangered Species
9
Miscellaneous
0
FEMA/Disaster Relief
Major Environmental Programs (cont’d from 660’s)
0
Noise Pollution
1
Vehicle Emissions
2
Land Use
700’s Government Operations, Civil Rights, and Justice
14
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
0
0
D.C. Governance
1
Government Reorganization
2
Govt. Employee Pay
3
Govt. Employee Retirement
4
Govt. Employee Benefits
5
Govt. Employee Regulation (Hatch Act)
6
Civil Service & Reform
8
Public Construction
9
Miscellaneous
10’s
Operations within Executive, Judiciary
1
0
Maritime
1
Sunshine Regulations
2
Post Office
6
Treasury/IRS
7
Executive
8
Judiciary
9
Miscellaneous
20’s & 30’s Civil Rights
2
0
Pay Equity
1
Voting Rights Act
2
School Desegregation
3
Civil Rights Commission
4
Age Discrimination
5
Poll Tax
6
General Civil Rights
7
Busing
8
Civil Rights Act
9
Race Discrimination in Employment
3
0
Domestic Radicals and Unrest
1
Criminal Procedures
2
Internal Security/HUAC
3
Free Speech/Flag Burning
4
MLK Holiday
5
Gay Rights
6
Race Discrimination in Federal Grants
7
Quotas
8
Fair Housing
9
Miscellaneous
40’s
Campaigns & Elections
4
0
Campaign Finance
1
Election Procedures
2
Federal Election Commission
3
Equal Time/Fairness
4
Voter Registration
15
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
50’s
5
70’s
7
80’s
8
5
6
9
Crime & Criminal Justice
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Ethics in Government
0
1
2
3
4
Redistricting
Congressional Term Limits
Miscellaneous
Gun Control
Pornography
Organized Crime
Drug Control
Law Enforcement Asst. Act/other State Aid
Death Penalty
Domestic Violence
Drug Testing/Lie Detection
Criminal Procedures
Miscellaneous (including hate crimes)
Lobbying
Independent Counsel
Watergate
Ethics in Government Act
Scandal (e.g. Whitewater)
Homeland Security
0
1
Homeland Security
Patriot Act
800’s Welfare and Human Services
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
00’s
0
10’s
1
20’s
2
Social Security & Medicare
0
1
2
3
9
Social Welfare
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
9
Medical (see also 940’s)
0
Social Security Benefits
Social Security Financing
Medicare
Disability
Miscellaneous (fraud)
Job Bills
Welfare Benefits/ Social Services
Community Services
Legal Services Corporation
Medicaid
CETA
Job Training
Miscellaneous
Medical Construction
16
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
1
2
3
4
5
9
30’s
3
40’s
4
50’s
5
60’s
6
Cigarettes
Drug Abuse/ Education
Other Health Insurance (e.g. SCHIP)
HMOs
AIDS
Miscellaneous
Poverty
0
Economic Development/ Appalachia
1
Nutrition Programs (poverty-oriented)
2
Family Assistance
3
Office of Economic Opportunity
4
VISTA/ ACTION
5
Homeless
9
Miscellaneous
Middle Class Assistance
0
General School Lunch
1
Home Mortgages
2
Older Americans Programs
3
Child Care
4
Medical Leave
9
Miscellaneous
Education
0
Handicapped Education
1
Higher Education
2
Head Start, Elementary & Secondary
3
Vocational Education
4
Federally Impacted Areas Education
5
School Construction
6
Tuition Tax Credit
7
School Prayer
8
Department of Education
9
Miscellaneous
Housing and Urban Development
0
General Budget
1
HUD Programs
2
Public Construction
3
UDAG
4
Housing and Rent Subsidies
5
Demonstration Cities
9
Miscellaneous
900’s Miscellaneous Domestic
9
00’s
Federalism
17
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
0
10’s
1
Agriculture
20’s
2
Transportation
30’s
3
Women’s Issues
40’s
4
50’s
5
0
1
2
3
9
Countercyclical Aid
Revenue Sharing
New York City Aid
Federal Tax Compensation
Miscellaneous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Agricultural Subsidies/ Price Supports
Farm Credit
Production Controls
Soil Programs and Land Use
Food Stamps
Farm Labor
Emergency Aid
Agricultural & Rural Development
Miscellaneous
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
Highway Funds
Rail Safety
Amtrak/ Public Rail
Airport & Airway Development
Highway Regulations
Mass Transit
Airline Regulation
Rail Regulations
Miscellaneous
0
Equal Pay
1
ERA
2
Employment Discrimination
8
Symbolic Women’s Issues
9
Miscellaneous
Health & Human Services
3
Hospital Costs
4
Public Health Service
5
Health Care for the Poor
6
Mental Health
7
Family Planning
8
Abortion
9
Miscellaneous (including NIH)
Arts & Public T.V. (953-958 Science Research)
0
Arts and Humanities
1
PBS
7
National Science Foundation
8
Miscellaneous Science Research
18
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
60’s
6
Labor
70’s
7
Consumer Issues
90’s
9
Miscellaneous
9
Miscellaneous
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Railroad Retirement Act
Labor Safety (OSHA)
Unemployment Assistance
Taft-Hartley
Right to Work
Davis-Bacon
Minimum Wage
Picketing and Striking
Labor Relations
Miscellaneous
0
1
2
3
4
Consumer Safety
Agency for Consumer Protection
Truth in Marketing/ Advertising
Product Liability
FDA
0
1
2
3
8
9
Hispanic Issues
Language Issues
Indian Issues
Handicapped Issues & Programs
Interstate Compacts
Miscellaneous Domestic
19
NOTES:
This codebook was updated in May of 2010. There have been several changes from previous years.
Therefore, use caution when using old .do files, as some codes may have changed.
The most obvious change involved switching the DC Appropriations (120s) with the Defense codes in the
240s. Now, all Defense Appropriations can be found in the 110s and 120s. Also, there are several new
variables (only available for the Senate) that deal with the introduction of motions on the floor and targets of
motions to table amendments (vote = 24). To avoid confusion when comparing roll call votes across
datasets, we have included a variable to compare roll call votes between CQ and VOTEVIEW. Depending
on what type of work you are doing, be sure that you are matching up votes using the correct numbering
variable.
VOTE, ISSUE and PRES data are coded based on the roll call descriptions from the senate.gov web site and the
coverage of individual votes listed in the CQ Roll Call Books and from CQ Weekly. A few points on coding
philosophy are worth mentioning. If a vote appeared to be viable in two or more issue categories, we attempted to
code in a manner that will provide researchers with the most information. For instance, a vote on abortion taken up in
the context of the Defense Appropriations bill is categorized under abortion. In such situations when multiple issue
codes may be relevant, it would be best to search all relevant codes rather than picking between them. In this
example, search the codes for defense and abortion first, but then search for votes under the name of the overall
defense appropriations bill (e.g. HR 1976). Using this strategy, we leave the researcher with the most information
possible. Lastly, as a safeguard against missing relevant votes, it may also be helpful to search the votes in a given
session with the same bill name and number. Third, a small number of issue and vote type codes have been added
over the course of the dataset. However, this has been done only when new issues have been introduced into the
political spectrum. We have attempted to avoid introducing new codes which cover issues coded differently in
previous congresses, but once again, it may be more prudent to search using multiple issue codes if they are relevant.
In the 108th Congress, the House reorganized the appropriations sub-committees to include the Department of
Homeland Security. These votes are coded in the 250s. Also, the Transportation and Treasury subcommittees were
combined. For consistency, we continue to code votes other than final passage for the new sub-committees the same,
however, final passage for this “new” subcommittee will be 210 and 220 should no longer be used.
One recurring issue is that of differentiating amendment types. In line with Oleszek (1996: 178), we distinguish
between substitute amendments (coded 23) and amendments in the nature of a substitute (coded 21). The former act
as a substitute for an existing amendment affecting part of a bill, while the latter offer new language for an entire bill.
We consider substitute amendments a secondary attempt to alter an amendment, and amendments in the nature of a
substitute a first-degree attempt to change the bill. Note that in recent Congresses, the language employed in the CQ
Roll Call books has varied for these types of amendments and it has often become necessary to look at Thomas to
ascertain which type of amendment is being considered.
According to our coding scheme, southern states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Additionally, members
classified as independents are coded as members of the party with which they most closely identify. For instance,
Bernie Sanders (VT) caucuses with the Democratic Party so he is coded as such. Jim Jeffords (VT) primarily
caucused with Democrats after changing his party affiliation to Independent and Dean Barkley (MN) did not caucus
with either party and is not assigned as a Democrat or Republican and thus is not included in the party marginals.
Aggregate vote marginals are computed based on individual level roll call data supplied by Keith Poole (available at:
http://www.voteview.com).
The data is provided by David W. Rohde and the Political Institutions and Public Choice Program (Duke University).
Questions may be directed to Prof. Rohde at [email protected]. For more information on the Political Institutions and
Public Choice Program at Duke, please visit our website at http://www.poli.duke.edu/pipc
20
Citation: Please cite this dataset as follows:
Rohde, David. Political Institutions and Public Choice House Roll-Call Database. Duke University, Durham, NC.
2010.
Last updated: June 25, 2010
21