public VotesCategories getCategories(String year) throws VoteSmartException, VoteSmartErrorException {
    """
	This method dumps categories that contain released bills according to year and state.
	Input: year*, stateId (default: 'NA')
	
	@param year
	@return {@link VotesCategories}
    """
		return api.query("Votes.getCategories", new ArgMap("year", year), VotesCategories.class );
	}
public VotesCategories getCategories(String year) throws VoteSmartException, VoteSmartErrorException {
		return api.query("Votes.getCategories", new ArgMap("year", year), VotesCategories.class );
	}
public VotesCategories getCategories ( String year ) throws VoteSmartException , VoteSmartErrorException { return api . query ( "Votes.getCategories" , new ArgMap ( "year" , year ) , VotesCategories . class ) ; }
This method dumps categories that contain released bills according to year and state.
Input: year*, stateId (default: 'NA')

@param year
@return {@link VotesCategories}
This method dumps categories that contain released bills according to year and state . Input : year * stateId ( default : NA )