
- Question: On the Joint Resolution
- Bill: S J RES 12
- Vote description: S.J.Res.12 as Amended; A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
- Vote type: 2/3 (Help)
A two-thirds majority of those present and voting is required for approval or passage. Used for suspension calendar bills in the House and certain Senate votes.
- Result: Defeated, 66-34.
- Date/time: June 27, 2006, 6:14 p.m.
- Republican majority opinion: Yes (Help)
The position of more than 50 percent of voting Republicans. "None" means an equal split between "Yes" and "No."
- Democrat majority opinion: No (Help)
The position of more than 50 percent of voting Democrats. "None" means an equal split between "Yes" and "No."
Key Vote Analysis
This vote would have given Senate approval to a proposed constitutional amendment that would give Congress the authority to ban 'desecration of the American flag.' Known as the "Flag Burning" amendment, it failed in the Senate by a single vote. The 66 to 34 tally was just one vote shy of the two-thirds majority required to submit the amendment to the states for ratification. The House approved the amendment June 22, 2005.
The vote has become something of a biannual ritual on Capitol Hill since the Republicans won control in the 1994 elections (this was the sixth attempt since 1995). While support for the measure has slowly ebbed in the House (the last vote, in 2005, earned the support of 286 representatives -- down from 312 for the first effort), it has grown over time in the Senate (63 senators voted for a version of the amendment in 2000). Supporters failed to find the sixty-seventh vote this time around, so the proposed amendment failed to be approved by both chambers of Congress as required by the Constitution.
Three Republicans -- Robert F. Bennett (Utah), Lincoln D. Chafee (R.I.) and GOP Whip Mitch McConnell (Ky.) -- voted against the amendment, while fourteen Democrats voted for it.
The proposed amendment said: "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." If the Senate had approved it, the amendment would have been submitted to the 50 states, with approval from 38 states needed to make it part of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court overturned a Texas law in 1989, ruling 5 to 4 that burning an American flag in protest is a form of political speech protected under the First Amendment. Congress later passed a federal anti-flag-desecration law, but the high court invalidated it on the same grounds.
"Behind the constitutional rhetoric were cold political considerations," The Washington Post reported. "Republicans are eager to energize conservative voters this fall, and the flag initiative -- even if doomed to fail -- is seen as a sure-fire way to inspire them, especially a week before Independence Day."
See other key votes in the 109th Congress
Vote totals
Click to list individual members.
| Yes | No |
| Aquarius | Conrad Burns,
John Cornyn,
Mark Dayton,
Mike Enzi,
Judd Gregg,
Arlen Specter,
Craig Thomas,
John Warner | Tom Carper,
Herb Kohl,
Frank Lautenberg,
Paul Sarbanes |
| Aries | John Ensign,
Orrin Hatch,
Richard Lugar | Lincoln Chafee,
Patrick Leahy |
| Cancer | Lamar Alexander,
Larry Craig,
Dianne Feinstein,
Lindsey Graham,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
George Voinovich | Carl Levin,
Barbara Mikulski |
| Capricorn | Evan Bayh,
Mike DeWine,
Johnny Isakson,
Tim Johnson,
Robert Menendez,
Jeff Sessions,
John Thune | Mark Pryor |
| Gemini | Lisa Murkowski,
Jay Rockefeller,
Gordon Smith | Chris Dodd |
| Leo | Norm Coleman,
Liddy Dole | Barack Obama |
| Libra | Chuck Hagel,
Blanche Lincoln,
Trent Lott,
Bill Nelson,
Jim Talent | Jeff Bingaman,
Maria Cantwell,
Patty Murray |
| Pisces | George Allen,
Kit Bond,
Tom Coburn,
Bill Frist,
Kenneth Salazar,
Olympia Snowe | Kent Conrad,
Russ Feingold,
Edward Kennedy,
Joseph Lieberman,
Mitch McConnell |
| Sagittarius | Wayne Allard,
Max Baucus,
Richard Burr,
Thad Cochran,
Susan Collins,
Mary Landrieu,
Harry Reid | John Kerry,
Chuck Schumer |
| Scorpio | Jim Bunning,
Saxby Chambliss,
James Inhofe,
Mel Martinez,
Ted Stevens | Joe Biden,
Barbara Boxer,
Robert Byrd,
Hillary Clinton,
Dick Durbin,
Tom Harkin,
Jack Reed |
| Taurus | Mike Crapo,
Pete Domenici,
Jon Kyl,
Ben Nelson,
Pat Roberts,
Rick Santorum,
Richard Shelby,
Debbie Stabenow,
David Vitter | Byron Dorgan,
James Jeffords,
Ron Wyden |
| Virgo | Sam Brownback,
Jim DeMint,
Chuck Grassley,
John McCain,
John Sununu | Daniel Akaka,
Bob Bennett,
Daniel Inouye |
| Yes | No |
| Female | Susan Collins,
Liddy Dole,
Dianne Feinstein,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
Mary Landrieu,
Blanche Lincoln,
Lisa Murkowski,
Olympia Snowe,
Debbie Stabenow | Barbara Boxer,
Maria Cantwell,
Hillary Clinton,
Barbara Mikulski,
Patty Murray |
| Male | Lamar Alexander,
Wayne Allard,
George Allen,
Max Baucus,
Evan Bayh,
Kit Bond,
Sam Brownback,
Jim Bunning,
Conrad Burns,
Richard Burr,
Saxby Chambliss,
Tom Coburn,
Thad Cochran,
Norm Coleman,
John Cornyn,
Larry Craig,
Mike Crapo,
Mark Dayton,
Jim DeMint,
Mike DeWine,
Pete Domenici,
John Ensign,
Mike Enzi,
Bill Frist,
Lindsey Graham,
Chuck Grassley,
Judd Gregg,
Chuck Hagel,
Orrin Hatch,
James Inhofe,
Johnny Isakson,
Tim Johnson,
Jon Kyl,
Trent Lott,
Richard Lugar,
Mel Martinez,
John McCain,
Robert Menendez,
Bill Nelson,
Ben Nelson,
Harry Reid,
Pat Roberts,
Jay Rockefeller,
Kenneth Salazar,
Rick Santorum,
Jeff Sessions,
Richard Shelby,
Gordon Smith,
Arlen Specter,
Ted Stevens,
John Sununu,
Jim Talent,
Craig Thomas,
John Thune,
David Vitter,
George Voinovich,
John Warner | Daniel Akaka,
Bob Bennett,
Joe Biden,
Jeff Bingaman,
Robert Byrd,
Tom Carper,
Lincoln Chafee,
Kent Conrad,
Chris Dodd,
Byron Dorgan,
Dick Durbin,
Russ Feingold,
Tom Harkin,
Daniel Inouye,
James Jeffords,
Edward Kennedy,
John Kerry,
Herb Kohl,
Frank Lautenberg,
Patrick Leahy,
Carl Levin,
Joseph Lieberman,
Mitch McConnell,
Barack Obama,
Mark Pryor,
Jack Reed,
Paul Sarbanes,
Chuck Schumer,
Ron Wyden |
| Yes | No |
| Midwest | Evan Bayh,
Kit Bond,
Sam Brownback,
Norm Coleman,
Mark Dayton,
Mike DeWine,
Chuck Grassley,
Chuck Hagel,
Tim Johnson,
Richard Lugar,
Ben Nelson,
Pat Roberts,
Debbie Stabenow,
Jim Talent,
John Thune,
George Voinovich | Kent Conrad,
Byron Dorgan,
Dick Durbin,
Russ Feingold,
Tom Harkin,
Herb Kohl,
Carl Levin,
Barack Obama |
| Northeast | Susan Collins,
Judd Gregg,
Robert Menendez,
Rick Santorum,
Olympia Snowe,
Arlen Specter,
John Sununu | Lincoln Chafee,
Hillary Clinton,
Chris Dodd,
James Jeffords,
Edward Kennedy,
John Kerry,
Frank Lautenberg,
Patrick Leahy,
Joseph Lieberman,
Jack Reed,
Chuck Schumer |
| South | Lamar Alexander,
George Allen,
Jim Bunning,
Richard Burr,
Saxby Chambliss,
Tom Coburn,
Thad Cochran,
John Cornyn,
Jim DeMint,
Liddy Dole,
Bill Frist,
Lindsey Graham,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
James Inhofe,
Johnny Isakson,
Mary Landrieu,
Blanche Lincoln,
Trent Lott,
Mel Martinez,
Bill Nelson,
Jay Rockefeller,
Jeff Sessions,
Richard Shelby,
David Vitter,
John Warner | Joe Biden,
Robert Byrd,
Tom Carper,
Mitch McConnell,
Barbara Mikulski,
Mark Pryor,
Paul Sarbanes |
| West | Wayne Allard,
Max Baucus,
Conrad Burns,
Larry Craig,
Mike Crapo,
Pete Domenici,
John Ensign,
Mike Enzi,
Dianne Feinstein,
Orrin Hatch,
Jon Kyl,
John McCain,
Lisa Murkowski,
Harry Reid,
Kenneth Salazar,
Gordon Smith,
Ted Stevens,
Craig Thomas | Daniel Akaka,
Bob Bennett,
Jeff Bingaman,
Barbara Boxer,
Maria Cantwell,
Daniel Inouye,
Patty Murray,
Ron Wyden |
| Yes | No |
| None | | Barack Obama |
| 2006 | George Allen,
Conrad Burns,
Mark Dayton,
Mike DeWine,
Bill Frist,
Rick Santorum,
Jim Talent | Lincoln Chafee,
James Jeffords,
Paul Sarbanes |
| 2008 | Lamar Alexander,
Wayne Allard,
Max Baucus,
Saxby Chambliss,
Thad Cochran,
Norm Coleman,
Susan Collins,
John Cornyn,
Larry Craig,
Liddy Dole,
Pete Domenici,
Mike Enzi,
Lindsey Graham,
Chuck Hagel,
James Inhofe,
Tim Johnson,
Mary Landrieu,
Pat Roberts,
Jay Rockefeller,
Jeff Sessions,
Gordon Smith,
Ted Stevens,
John Sununu,
John Warner | Joe Biden,
Dick Durbin,
Tom Harkin,
John Kerry,
Frank Lautenberg,
Carl Levin,
Mitch McConnell,
Mark Pryor,
Jack Reed |
| 2010 | Evan Bayh,
Kit Bond,
Sam Brownback,
Jim Bunning,
Richard Burr,
Tom Coburn,
Mike Crapo,
Jim DeMint,
Chuck Grassley,
Judd Gregg,
Johnny Isakson,
Blanche Lincoln,
Mel Martinez,
John McCain,
Lisa Murkowski,
Harry Reid,
Kenneth Salazar,
Richard Shelby,
Arlen Specter,
John Thune,
David Vitter,
George Voinovich | Bob Bennett,
Barbara Boxer,
Chris Dodd,
Byron Dorgan,
Russ Feingold,
Daniel Inouye,
Patrick Leahy,
Barbara Mikulski,
Patty Murray,
Chuck Schumer,
Ron Wyden |
| 2012 | John Ensign,
Dianne Feinstein,
Orrin Hatch,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
Jon Kyl,
Trent Lott,
Richard Lugar,
Robert Menendez,
Bill Nelson,
Ben Nelson,
Olympia Snowe,
Debbie Stabenow,
Craig Thomas | Daniel Akaka,
Jeff Bingaman,
Robert Byrd,
Maria Cantwell,
Tom Carper,
Hillary Clinton,
Kent Conrad,
Edward Kennedy,
Herb Kohl,
Joseph Lieberman |
| Yes | No |
| Alabama | Jeff Sessions,
Richard Shelby | |
| Alaska | Lisa Murkowski,
Ted Stevens | |
| Arizona | Jon Kyl,
John McCain | |
| Arkansas | Blanche Lincoln | Mark Pryor |
| California | Dianne Feinstein | Barbara Boxer |
| Colorado | Wayne Allard,
Kenneth Salazar | |
| Connecticut | | Chris Dodd,
Joseph Lieberman |
| Delaware | | Joe Biden,
Tom Carper |
| Florida | Mel Martinez,
Bill Nelson | |
| Georgia | Saxby Chambliss,
Johnny Isakson | |
| Hawaii | | Daniel Akaka,
Daniel Inouye |
| Idaho | Larry Craig,
Mike Crapo | |
| Illinois | | Dick Durbin,
Barack Obama |
| Indiana | Evan Bayh,
Richard Lugar | |
| Iowa | Chuck Grassley | Tom Harkin |
| Kansas | Sam Brownback,
Pat Roberts | |
| Kentucky | Jim Bunning | Mitch McConnell |
| Louisiana | Mary Landrieu,
David Vitter | |
| Maine | Susan Collins,
Olympia Snowe | |
| Maryland | | Barbara Mikulski,
Paul Sarbanes |
| Massachusetts | | Edward Kennedy,
John Kerry |
| Michigan | Debbie Stabenow | Carl Levin |
| Minnesota | Norm Coleman,
Mark Dayton | |
| Mississippi | Thad Cochran,
Trent Lott | |
| Missouri | Kit Bond,
Jim Talent | |
| Montana | Max Baucus,
Conrad Burns | |
| Nebraska | Chuck Hagel,
Ben Nelson | |
| Nevada | John Ensign,
Harry Reid | |
| New Hampshire | Judd Gregg,
John Sununu | |
| New Jersey | Robert Menendez | Frank Lautenberg |
| New Mexico | Pete Domenici | Jeff Bingaman |
| New York | | Hillary Clinton,
Chuck Schumer |
| North Carolina | Richard Burr,
Liddy Dole | |
| North Dakota | | Kent Conrad,
Byron Dorgan |
| Ohio | Mike DeWine,
George Voinovich | |
| Oklahoma | Tom Coburn,
James Inhofe | |
| Oregon | Gordon Smith | Ron Wyden |
| Pennsylvania | Rick Santorum,
Arlen Specter | |
| Rhode Island | | Lincoln Chafee,
Jack Reed |
| South Carolina | Jim DeMint,
Lindsey Graham | |
| South Dakota | Tim Johnson,
John Thune | |
| Tennessee | Lamar Alexander,
Bill Frist | |
| Texas | John Cornyn,
Kay Bailey Hutchison | |
| Utah | Orrin Hatch | Bob Bennett |
| Vermont | | James Jeffords,
Patrick Leahy |
| Virginia | George Allen,
John Warner | |
| Washington | | Maria Cantwell,
Patty Murray |
| West Virginia | Jay Rockefeller | Robert Byrd |
| Wisconsin | | Russ Feingold,
Herb Kohl |
| Wyoming | Mike Enzi,
Craig Thomas | |
| Yes | No |
| Baby boomer | George Allen,
Evan Bayh,
Sam Brownback,
Richard Burr,
Tom Coburn,
Norm Coleman,
Susan Collins,
John Cornyn,
Mike Crapo,
Mark Dayton,
Jim DeMint,
Mike DeWine,
John Ensign,
Bill Frist,
Lindsey Graham,
Judd Gregg,
Chuck Hagel,
Tim Johnson,
Mary Landrieu,
Blanche Lincoln,
Mel Martinez,
Robert Menendez,
Lisa Murkowski,
Kenneth Salazar,
Rick Santorum,
Jeff Sessions,
Gordon Smith,
Olympia Snowe,
Debbie Stabenow,
John Sununu,
Jim Talent,
John Thune,
David Vitter | Maria Cantwell,
Tom Carper,
Lincoln Chafee,
Hillary Clinton,
Kent Conrad,
Russ Feingold,
Patty Murray,
Barack Obama,
Mark Pryor,
Jack Reed,
Chuck Schumer,
Ron Wyden |
| Pre-boomer | Lamar Alexander,
Wayne Allard,
Max Baucus,
Kit Bond,
Jim Bunning,
Conrad Burns,
Saxby Chambliss,
Thad Cochran,
Larry Craig,
Liddy Dole,
Pete Domenici,
Mike Enzi,
Dianne Feinstein,
Chuck Grassley,
Orrin Hatch,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
James Inhofe,
Johnny Isakson,
Jon Kyl,
Trent Lott,
Richard Lugar,
John McCain,
Bill Nelson,
Ben Nelson,
Harry Reid,
Pat Roberts,
Jay Rockefeller,
Richard Shelby,
Arlen Specter,
Ted Stevens,
Craig Thomas,
George Voinovich,
John Warner | Daniel Akaka,
Bob Bennett,
Joe Biden,
Jeff Bingaman,
Barbara Boxer,
Robert Byrd,
Chris Dodd,
Byron Dorgan,
Dick Durbin,
Tom Harkin,
Daniel Inouye,
James Jeffords,
Edward Kennedy,
John Kerry,
Herb Kohl,
Frank Lautenberg,
Patrick Leahy,
Carl Levin,
Joseph Lieberman,
Mitch McConnell,
Barbara Mikulski,
Paul Sarbanes |
| Yes | No |
| Democratic | Max Baucus,
Evan Bayh,
Mark Dayton,
Dianne Feinstein,
Tim Johnson,
Mary Landrieu,
Blanche Lincoln,
Robert Menendez,
Bill Nelson,
Ben Nelson,
Harry Reid,
Jay Rockefeller,
Kenneth Salazar,
Debbie Stabenow | Daniel Akaka,
Joe Biden,
Jeff Bingaman,
Barbara Boxer,
Robert Byrd,
Maria Cantwell,
Tom Carper,
Hillary Clinton,
Kent Conrad,
Chris Dodd,
Byron Dorgan,
Dick Durbin,
Russ Feingold,
Tom Harkin,
Daniel Inouye,
Edward Kennedy,
John Kerry,
Herb Kohl,
Frank Lautenberg,
Patrick Leahy,
Carl Levin,
Joseph Lieberman,
Barbara Mikulski,
Patty Murray,
Barack Obama,
Mark Pryor,
Jack Reed,
Paul Sarbanes,
Chuck Schumer,
Ron Wyden |
| Independent | | James Jeffords |
| Republican | Lamar Alexander,
Wayne Allard,
George Allen,
Kit Bond,
Sam Brownback,
Jim Bunning,
Conrad Burns,
Richard Burr,
Saxby Chambliss,
Tom Coburn,
Thad Cochran,
Norm Coleman,
Susan Collins,
John Cornyn,
Larry Craig,
Mike Crapo,
Jim DeMint,
Mike DeWine,
Liddy Dole,
Pete Domenici,
John Ensign,
Mike Enzi,
Bill Frist,
Lindsey Graham,
Chuck Grassley,
Judd Gregg,
Chuck Hagel,
Orrin Hatch,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
James Inhofe,
Johnny Isakson,
Jon Kyl,
Trent Lott,
Richard Lugar,
Mel Martinez,
John McCain,
Lisa Murkowski,
Pat Roberts,
Rick Santorum,
Jeff Sessions,
Richard Shelby,
Gordon Smith,
Olympia Snowe,
Arlen Specter,
Ted Stevens,
John Sununu,
Jim Talent,
Craig Thomas,
John Thune,
David Vitter,
George Voinovich,
John Warner | Bob Bennett,
Lincoln Chafee,
Mitch McConnell |
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