To amend the panama canal treaty by providing that there shall be no other foreign military presence other than the United States in the territory of the republ

On Mar 20, 1978, the Senate voted 39–45. Result: failed. By party: Democrats 17–38, Republicans 23–9, Independents 1–0. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 26 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: 39
No: 45
Did not vote: 16
Date: Mar 20, 1978

By party

Democrats17 yes · 38 no · 10 didn’t vote
Republicans23 yes · 9 no · 6 didn’t vote
Independents1 yes · 0 no

Who broke with their party

James Browning Allen D-AL voted yes
Dennis Webster Deconcini D-AZ voted yes
Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. R-CT voted no
Richard Bernard Stone D-FL voted yes
Herman Eugene Talmadge D-GA voted yes
Samuel Augustus Nunn D-GA voted yes
Wendell Hampton Ford D-KY voted yes
John Bennett Johnston Jr. D-LA voted yes
Russell Billiu Long D-LA voted yes
John Claggett Danforth R-MO voted no
James Oliver Eastland D-MS voted yes
John Cornelius Stennis D-MS voted yes
John Melcher D-MT voted yes
Paul Gerhart Hatfield D-MT voted yes
Quentin Northrup Burdick D-ND voted yes
Edward Zorinsky D-NE voted yes
Clifford Philip Case R-NJ voted no
Howard Walter Cannon D-NV voted yes
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted no
Mark Odom Hatfield R-OR voted no
Henry John Heinz III R-PA voted no
John Hubbard Chafee R-RI voted no
Howard Henry Baker Jr. R-TN voted no
Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. D-TX voted yes
Robert Theodore Stafford R-VT voted no
Jennings Randolph D-WV 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 20, 1978,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/95-S-704/to-amend-the-panama-canal-treaty-by-providing-that (accessed 2026-10-17).