This paper presents the cyclic seismic performance of slip-critically designed, high-strength bolted-beam splice in steel moment frames. Before the moment connection reaching its ultimate plastic strength, unexpected premature slippage occurred at the slip-critically designed beam splice during the test. The experimentally observed frictional coefficients were as low as about 50% to 60% of nominal(code) value. Nevertheless, the bearing type behavior mobilized after the slippage transferred the increasing cyclic loads successfully, i.e., the consequence of slippage into bearing was not catastrophic to the connection behavior. The test result seems to indicate that the traditional beam splice design basing upon(bolt-hole deducted) effective flange area criterion may not be sufficient in developing the plastic strength of moment connections under severe earthquake loading. New procedure for achieving slip-critical beam splice design is proposed based on capacity design concept.