To table a committee amendment to S. 1437 that states that a person accused of disseminating obscene materials may have a defense if the dissemination of that m

On Jan 27, 1978, the Senate voted 20–53 (S 1437). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 9–37, Republicans 12–17, Independents 0–1. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted no. 21 members voted against their own party.

During the 95th Congress (1977–1978), Jimmy Carter was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 20
No: 53
Did not vote: 28
Date: Jan 27, 1978

By party

Democrats9 yes · 37 no · 19 didn’t vote
Republicans12 yes · 17 no · 9 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

James Browning Allen D-AL voted yes
John Jackson Sparkman D-AL voted yes
Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa R-CA voted yes
William Victor Roth Jr. R-DE voted yes
Adlai Ewing III Stevenson D-IL voted yes
Walter Darlington Huddleston D-KY voted yes
Robert Paul Griffin R-MI voted yes
James Oliver Eastland D-MS voted yes
Jesse Helms R-NC voted yes
Edward Zorinsky D-NE voted yes
Harrison Hagan Schmitt R-NM voted yes
Dewey Follett Bartlett R-OK voted yes
Richard Schultz Schweiker R-PA voted yes
Ernest Frederick (Fritz) Hollings D-SC voted yes
James Strom Thurmond R-SC voted yes
Edwin Jacob (Jake) Garn R-UT voted yes
Orrin Grant Hatch R-UT voted yes
William Lloyd Scott R-VA voted yes
Jennings Randolph D-WV voted yes
Robert Carlyle Byrd D-WV voted yes
Clifford Peter Hansen R-WY voted yes

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To table a committee amendment to S. 1437…: Senate Vote, Jan 27, 1978,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/95-S-650/to-table-a-committee-amendment-to-s-1437-that (accessed 2026-10-16).