HJRES 78 105th Congress House Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Church and state Constitutional amendments Education Elementary and secondary education Government Operations and Politics Higher education Infrastructure Law Prayer in the public schools Public Lands and Natural Resources Religion Religious liberty

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States restoring religious freedom.

Introduced: May 8, 1997 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 24 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jun 4, 1998

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Jun 4, 1998

On passage Failed by recorded vote (2/3 required): 224 - 203 (Roll No. 201).

Jun 4, 1998

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 203 - 223 (Roll No. 200). (consideration: CR H4111)

Jun 4, 1998

Mr. Scott moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.

Jun 4, 1998

BISHOP PART 2 AMENDMENT - An amendment to strike language dealing with the denial of "equal access to a benefit on account of religion" and insert "or otherwise compel or discriminate against religion."

Jun 4, 1998

BISHOP PART 1 AMENDMENT - An amendment to strike language to secure the right to "acknowledge God" and insert the right to "freedom of religion"

Jun 4, 1998

DEMAND FOR DIVISION OF THE QUESTION - Demand for the division of the question between the two instructions in the Bishop amendment: Part 1, strike and insert page 3 line 18; and Part 2, strike and insert page 4 beginning in line 1.

Jun 4, 1998

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 453, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Bishop amendment. Subsequently, Mr. Istook demanded that the question be divided when the Chair puts the question on agreeing to the amendment. Under the rule, the question will be divided between the first instruction contained in the amendment and the second instruction.

Jun 4, 1998

DEBATE - The House proceeded with two hours of debate.

Jun 4, 1998

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 453. (consideration: CR H4078-4112)

Jun 4, 1998

Rule H. Res. 453 passed House.

Jun 3, 1998

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 453 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 78.

May 19, 1998

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 105-543.

May 19, 1998

Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 192.

Mar 31, 1998

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1840-1845)

Mar 30, 1998

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1770-1774)

Mar 4, 1998

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 11.

Mar 4, 1998

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Oct 28, 1997

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 8 - 4.

Oct 28, 1997

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Jul 22, 1997

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

May 14, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

May 8, 1997

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

May 8, 1997

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 2

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Jun 4, 1998	House · vote #201	On Passage	Failed	224–203	See who voted →
Jun 4, 1998	House · vote #200	On Motion to Recommit with Instructions	Failed	203–223	See who voted →

Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 failed

Amendment	Sponsor	Purpose	Status	Latest action
HAMDT 655	Bishop, Sanford D.	An amendment to 1) strike language to secure the right to "acknowledge God" and insert the right to "freedom …	Failed	Jun 4, 1998

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Declares that: (1) to secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience, the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed; and (2) the Government shall not require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, initiate or designate school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion.

What's happening now June 4, 1998

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Related & companion bills 1

Bill text 2 versions

Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
Reported in House Formatted Text PDF

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 2

Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
House of Representatives · subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
Judiciary Committee
House of Representatives

Cosponsors 11

Aderholt, Robert B.

Alabama · May 8, 1997

Bishop, Sanford D.

Georgia · May 8, 1997

Calvert, Ken

California · May 8, 1997

Crapo, Mike

Idaho · May 8, 1997

Graham, Lindsey

South Carolina · May 8, 1997

Lucas, Frank D.

Oklahoma · May 8, 1997

Rogers, Harold

Kentucky · May 8, 1997

Sessions, Pete

Texas · May 8, 1997

Smith, Christopher H.

New Jersey · May 8, 1997

Thune, John

South Dakota · May 8, 1997

Wicker, Roger F.

Mississippi · May 8, 1997

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APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 78: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States restoring religious freedom.. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-78/

MLA

"H.J. Res. 78: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States restoring religious freedom.." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-78/.

Bluebook (legal)

H.J. Res. 78, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-78/.

Markdown link

[H.J. Res. 78: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States restoring religious freedom.](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-78/)