An Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit union organization of the armed forces, membership in military labor organizations by members of the armed forces, and recognition of military labor organizations by the Government, and for other purposes.
Public Law 95-610 · S. 274 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 8, 1978 · Labor and Employment
Sponsor: Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC)
Cosponsors (49): Sen. James Allen, Sen. Howard Baker,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 395 yea, 12 nay395–12
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(Reported to House from the Committee on Armed Services with amendment, H. Rept. 95-894 (Pt. I))
Makes it unlawful for members of the armed forces, knowing of the activities or objectives of a particular military labor organization, to join or maintain membership in such organization, or attempt to enroll any other member of the armed forces in such organization.
Makes it unlawful for any person to: (1) enroll any member of the armed forces in a military labor organization, or to solicit or accept dues or fees for such an organization from any member of the armed forces; (2) to negotiate or bargain with any civilian officer or employee, on behalf of members of the armed forces, concerning the terms or conditions of service of such members; (3) participate in strikes or other concerted labor union activities which are intended to induce a member of the armed forces to (A) negotiate or bargain concerning the terms or conditions of military services, (B) recognize an organization as a representative of armed forces personnel with respect to complaints or grievances concerning terms or conditions of service, or (C) make any change in the terms or conditions of service of individual members of the armed services; or (4) use any military installation or facility for such prohibited activities.
Makes it unlawful for any military labor organization to represent or attempt to represent any member of the armed forces before any civilian officers or employee or member of the armed forces in connection with grievances or complaints arising out of terms or conditions of military service.
Prohibits members of the armed forces and civilian officers and employees from: (1) negotiating or bargaining on behalf of the United States with any person who represents or purports to represent members of the armed forces; or (2) allowing the use of any military installation, facility, reservation, vessel, or other property of the United States for any meeting, march, picketing, demonstration or other similar activity for the purpose of engaging in activities prohibited by this Act. Stipulates that nothing in this Act shall prevent commanders or supervisors from giving consideration to the views of members of the armed forces, either as individuals or through advisory councils, committees, or organizations.
Defines "member of the armed forces" as one who is serving on active duty, or is a member of a Reserve component while performing inactive duty training.
Sets forth penalties for the violation of the provisions of this Act.
States that nothing in this Act shall limit the rights of members of the armed forces to: (1) join or maintain membership in any organization which does not meet the definition of a "military labor organization"; (2) present complaints or grievances in accordance with established military procedures; (3) seek or receive information, or counseling from any source; (4) be represented by counsel in legal or quasi-legal proceedings in accordance with applicable laws and regulations; (5) petition the Congress for redress of grievances; or (6) take administrative action to obtain administrative or judicial relief as authorized by applicable laws or regulations.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 95th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 399 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
399 yea12 nay21 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(261)
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
- Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
- Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
- Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
- Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
- Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
- Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
- Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
- Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3- Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
- Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Joseph LeFanteD-NJ-14
- Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7- Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
- Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
- Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
- Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
- Rep. John DentD-PA-21
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-15
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
- Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
- Rep. James TuckerD-AR-2
- Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
- Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
- Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7- Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
- Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
- Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
- Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
- Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
- Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. David CornwellD-IN-8
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
- Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
- Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
- Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. Theodore RisenhooverD-OK-2
- Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
- Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
- Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
- Rep. James MannD-SC-4
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
- Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
- Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
- Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. James SantiniD-NV
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
- Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
- Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Robert GammageD-TX-22
- Rep. Dale MilfordD-TX-24
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
- Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
- Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
- Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
- Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
- Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
- Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
- Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3
- Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
- Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7
Republicans who voted yea(138)
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
- Rep. Newton SteersR-MD-8
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
- Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
- Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
- Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
- Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
- Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
- Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
- Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Louis FreyR-FL-9
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
- Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
- Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
- Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
- Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
- Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
- Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
- Rep. John CunninghamR-WA-7
- Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
- Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. David StockmanR-MI-4
- Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
- Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
- Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
- Rep. Eldon RuddR-AZ-4
- Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
- Rep. Dan QuayleR-IN-4
- Rep. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-33
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
- Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
- Rep. Steven SymmsR-ID-1
- Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1440 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 15 actions.
- Nov 8, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-610.
- Oct 27, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 14, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Sep 26, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #832 (395-12).House roll call 832
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Aug 4, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Feb 22, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
- Sep 19, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Sep 16, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #388 (72-3).Senate roll call 388
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Aug 18, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Armed Services Committee
- Jan 18, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Armed Services Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.