Religious Freedom Constitutional Amendment

On Jun 4, 1998, the House voted 203–223 on “On Motion to Recommit with Instructions” (HJRES 78). Result: Failed. By party: Republicans 23–201, Democrats 179–22, Independents 1–0. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 45 members voted against their own party.

During the 105th Congress (1997–1998), Bill Clinton was president, and Republicans held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Result: Failed
Yes: 203
No: 223
Did not vote: 18
Date: Jun 4, 1998

By party

Republicans23 yes · 201 no · 7 didn’t vote
Democrats179 yes · 22 no · 11 didn’t vote
Independents1 yes · 0 no

Who broke with their party

Robert E. (Bud) Cramer Jr. D-AL voted no
Robert Marion Berry D-AR voted no
Robert Lee Stump R-AZ voted yes
Gary Adrian Condit D-CA voted no
John Stephen (Steve) Horn R-CA voted yes
Charles Jeremy (Jerry) Lewis R-CA voted yes
Brian P. Bilbray R-CA voted yes
Christopher H. Shays R-CT voted yes
Nancy Lee Johnson R-CT voted yes
Michael Newbold Castle R-DE voted yes
Sanford Dixon Bishop Jr. D-GA voted no
James Albert Smith Leach R-IA voted yes
William Oliver Lipinski D-IL voted no
John Edward Porter R-IL voted yes
Harris W. Fawell R-IL voted yes
Timothy John Roemer D-IN voted no
Anne Meagher Northup R-KY voted yes
Henry Scott (Scotty) Baesler D-KY voted no
Christopher John D-LA voted no
Wayne Thomas Gilchrest R-MD voted yes
Constance A. Morella R-MD voted yes
James A. Barcia D-MI voted no
Collin Clark Peterson D-MN voted no
Isaac Newton Skelton IV (Ike) D-MO voted no
Gary Eugene (Gene) Taylor D-MS voted no
Mike Mcintyre D-NC voted no
Hugh James Saxton R-NJ voted yes
Robert Douglas Franks R-NJ voted yes
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen R-NJ voted yes
John Eric Ensign R-NV voted yes
Michael Patrick Forbes R-NY voted yes
Sue W. Kelly R-NY voted yes
Benjamin Arthur Gilman R-NY voted yes
Sherwood Louis Boehlert R-NY voted yes
James A. Traficant Jr. D-OH voted no
James Charles Greenwood R-PA voted yes
Jon D. Fox R-PA voted yes
Robert Nelson Clement D-TN voted no
Barton Jennings Gordon D-TN voted no
Max A. Sandlin D-TX voted no
Jim Turner D-TX voted no
Ralph Moody Hall D-TX voted no
Charles Walter Stenholm D-TX voted no
Virgil H. Goode Jr. D-VA voted no
Nick Joe Rahall II D-WV voted no

How each representative voted: Yes

How each representative voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “Religious Freedom Constitutional Amendment: House Vote, Jun 4, 1998,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/105-H-828/religious-freedom-constitutional-amendment (accessed 2026-10-13).