To amend the panama canal treaty by authorizing panama to lease its canal areas and military installations to the United States for a period of 99 years.

On Mar 22, 1978, the Senate voted 15–76. Result: failed. By party: Democrats 2–54, Republicans 13–22, Independents 0–1. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted no. 15 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: 15
No: 76
Did not vote: 12
Date: Mar 22, 1978

By party

Democrats2 yes · 54 no · 9 didn’t vote
Republicans13 yes · 22 no · 3 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

Theodore Fulton (Ted) Stevens R-AK voted yes
James Browning Allen D-AL voted yes
James Albertus Mcclure R-ID voted yes
Richard Green Lugar R-IN voted yes
James Oliver Eastland D-MS voted yes
Jesse Helms R-NC voted yes
Harrison Hagan Schmitt R-NM voted yes
Paul Dominique Laxalt R-NV voted yes
Dewey Follett Bartlett R-OK voted yes
James Strom Thurmond R-SC voted yes
John Goodwin Tower R-TX voted yes
Edwin Jacob (Jake) Garn R-UT voted yes
Orrin Grant Hatch R-UT voted yes
William Lloyd Scott R-VA 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 amend the panama canal treaty by…: Senate Vote, Mar 22, 1978,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/95-S-712/to-amend-the-panama-canal-treaty-by-authorizing-panama (accessed 2026-10-17).