Members vote in three ways on the floor: (1) by shouting "aye" or "no"
on voice votes; (2) by standing for or against on division votes; and
(3) on recorded votes (including the yeas and nays), by answering "aye"
or "no" when their names are called or, in the House, by recording
their votes through the electronic voting system.
Voting. (2001). In American Congressional dictionary.
Washington: CQ Press. Retrieved April 12, 2009, from CQ Press
Electronic Library, CQ Congress Collection,
http://library.cqpress.com/congress/amcndc-0000330810.
To find out more about Voting in Congress, read these articles from CQ:
Voting in Congress. (2008). In Congress a to z, 5th ed. American government a to z series.
Washington: CQ Press. Retrieved April 12, 2009, from CQ Press
Electronic Library, CQ Congress Collection,
http://library.cqpress.com/congress/coaz5d_584.1
Methods of voting in the House and Senate: Putting members’ positions on the record. (2008). In Guide to Congress, 6th ed.
(Vol. 1). Washington: CQ Press. Retrieved April 12, 2009, from CQ Press
Electronic Library, CQ Congress Collection,
http://library.cqpress.com/congress/g2c6e1-972-36472-1841832
The committee system: Proxy voting. (2008). In Guide to Congress, 6th ed.
(Vol. 1). Washington: CQ Press. Retrieved April 12, 2009, from CQ Press
Electronic Library, CQ Congress Collection,
http://library.cqpress.com/congress/g2c6e1-972-36483-1842264
Roll Call Votes
- Generally, any vote in which members are recorded by name for or against a measure; also called a record vote or roll-call vote. The only recorded vote in the Senate is a vote by the yeas and nays; it is commonly called troll-call vote.
- Technically, a recorded vote is a vote demanded in the House and supported by at least one-fifth of a quorum (forty-four members) in the House sitting as the House or at least twenty-five members in Committee of the Whole. Only one demand for a recorded vote on a pending question is permitted, but a member can make the demand before or immediately after a voice or division vote.
-Recorded Vote. (2001). In American Congressional dictionary.
Washington: CQ Press. Retrieved April 12, 2009, from CQ Press
Electronic Library, CQ Congress Collection,
http://library.cqpress.com/congress/amcndc-0000330584.