Simone Lawson
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed on April 8, 1913, established the direct election of senators by the people, replacing the previous system where senators were chosen by state legislatures. This amendment was the culmination of decades of efforts by reformers, dating back to the early 19th century, who sought to address issues of corruption and electoral deadlock associated with the original method of senator selection. The Seventeenth Amendment marked a significant shift in the way senators were chosen, allowing them to be more responsive to the demands of their constituents rather than the state legislatures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date proposed | May 13, 1912 |
| Date ratified | April 8, 1913 |
| Proposer | Senator Joseph Bristow of Kansas |
| Purpose | To allow voters to cast direct votes for U.S. senators |
| Previous system | Senators were chosen by state legislatures |
| New system | Senators were elected directly by the voting public during elections |
| Other changes | Authorizes state governors to have temporary officials hold vacant senate seats until a proper special election can be conducted |
| Legal disputes | In 1991, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit determined in Trinsey v. Pennsylvania that the amendment is not obliged to hold primaries for special elections |
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What You'll Learn
The 17th Amendment allowed voters to directly elect US senators
The Seventeenth Amendment (Amendment XVII) to the United States Constitution established the direct election of United States senators by the people, allowing voters to cast direct votes for senators in each state. This amendment superseded Article I, Section 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the original Constitution, under which senators were appointed by state legislatures for a six-year term.
The push for a constitutional amendment regarding Senate elections started in the early 19th century, with proposals for a popular election introduced as early as 1826. However, these resolutions were unsuccessful, and Congress passed a law in 1866 to regulate the time and procedure for electing senators while retaining election by state legislatures. Following the Civil War, disputes among state legislators over Senate elections resulted in numerous deadlocks, leaving some Senate seats vacant for extended periods.
By the 1890s, support for direct election to the Senate had grown significantly, and reformers worked on two fronts: some advocated for a constitutional amendment, while others pushed for state-based systems of direct election. In 1906, William Randolph Hearst further galvanised the movement for direct election with a series of articles in Cosmopolitan magazine, where he attacked the "Treason of the Senate" and exposed corruption in the election process.
By 1910, 31 state legislatures had passed resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment allowing direct election, and the House passed proposed amendments for the direct election of senators in 1910 and 1911. On June 12, 1911, the Senate passed a resolution to amend the Constitution, and the House accepted the change in 1912. The Seventeenth Amendment was ratified on April 8, 1913, with Connecticut's approval giving it the required three-fourths majority.
The Seventeenth Amendment altered the procedure for filling Senate vacancies, authorising state governors to make temporary appointments until a general election could be held. This amendment marked a significant shift in the election of senators, empowering voters to directly elect their representatives and ensuring that senators' decisions were based on the demands of their constituents.
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It superseded Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution
The Seventeenth Amendment (Amendment XVII) to the United States Constitution superseded Article I, Section 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, which had provided for the election of senators by state legislatures. The original text of Article I, Section 3, stated that the "Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote." This system of election by state legislatures was in place from 1787, when the Constitution was drafted, until the early 20th century when calls for reform began to gain traction.
The Seventeenth Amendment, which became part of the Constitution in 1913, modified Article I, Section 3, by allowing for the direct election of senators by the people of each state. The amended text of Article I, Section 3, replaced the phrase "chosen by the Legislature thereof" with "elected by the people thereof." This change represented a significant shift in the way that senators were chosen, moving from indirect election by state legislatures to direct election by popular vote.
The push for reform and the eventual superseding of Article I, Section 3, was driven by concerns about corruption and electoral deadlocks among state legislators. As early as 1826, resolutions calling for the direct election of senators were introduced, but it wasn't until the early 20th century that momentum for reform began to build. By the 1890s, support for direct election had substantially increased, and reformers worked to amend the Constitution. However, it was not until 1910 that the movement gained significant traction, with 31 state legislatures passing resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment.
The Seventeenth Amendment not only changed the method of electing senators but also altered the procedure for filling vacancies in the Senate. The amendment allows the governor or executive authority of each state, if authorized by the state's legislature, to appoint a senator temporarily until a special election can be held to fill the vacancy. This provision further contributed to the superseding of Article I, Section 3, by providing a more efficient and responsive process for filling Senate vacancies.
The transition to direct election of senators following the Seventeenth Amendment was gradual. Sitting senators served out their existing terms, and the process of direct election was implemented over a period of time, with the first senators chosen by direct election taking office in 1919. This transition period allowed for a smooth shift to the new system of electing senators, ensuring that the change from the original method outlined in Article I, Section 3, was implemented effectively.
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It altered the procedure for filling Senate vacancies
The Seventeenth Amendment (Amendment XVII) to the United States Constitution altered the procedure for filling Senate vacancies. Before the amendment, the state legislatures chose senators for a six-year term. However, this led to increased criticism in the post-Civil War era due to corruption and electoral deadlocks. Wealthy and influential candidates could bribe legislatures for appointments, and partisan disagreements between legislatures often resulted in vacant Senate seats for extended periods.
The Seventeenth Amendment addressed these issues by allowing state governors to make temporary appointments to fill Senate vacancies until a special election could be held. This change ensured that Senate seats remained filled and reduced the potential for corruption and electoral deadlocks associated with the previous system.
The amendment provides that "when vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies." It further states that "the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election."
The process for filling Senate vacancies is now more efficient and responsive to the needs of the constituents. The amendment empowers state governors to take swift action in appointing temporary officials, ensuring that the state is represented in the Senate until a proper special election can be conducted.
The Seventeenth Amendment's impact on filling Senate vacancies was significant, addressing long-standing concerns about corruption and electoral deadlocks. It shifted the power to fill vacancies from state legislatures to state governors, providing a more direct representation of the people's interests in the Senate.
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The Amendment was proposed by the 62nd Congress in 1912
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was proposed by the 62nd Congress in 1912. This amendment was a response to calls for a constitutional amendment regarding Senate elections, which started in the early 19th century. The first proposal to amend the Constitution and elect senators by popular vote was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1826, but it did not gain significant support until the late 19th century when issues related to Senate elections became more apparent.
By the 1890s, support for direct election to the Senate had grown considerably, and reformers worked towards a constitutional amendment. State legislatures, which would lose power if the reforms went through, also supported the campaign. By 1910, 31 state legislatures had passed resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment allowing direct election. In 1911, Senator Joseph Bristow of Kansas offered a Senate resolution to amend the Constitution, and it soon gained support from other senators.
The resolution passed the Senate on June 12, 1911, and moved to the House of Representatives, which approved it. By 1912, 29 states elected U.S. senators either as nominees of their party's primary or in a general election. These popularly elected senators advocated strongly for a direct election process. On May 13, 1912, the resolution was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
The Seventeenth Amendment modified Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution, allowing voters to directly elect their U.S. senators. It also allowed state governors to make temporary appointments in the event of Senate vacancies, until a general election could be held. The amendment became part of the Constitution on April 8, 1913, when it was ratified by three-quarters of the state legislatures.
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It was ratified on April 8, 1913
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on April 8, 1913, by three-quarters (
The amendment was proposed by the 62nd Congress in 1912, and it was passed by Congress on May 13, 1912. The resolution then moved to the states for ratification. The Seventeenth Amendment modified Article I, Section 3, of the Constitution, which originally provided for the election of senators by state legislatures. The amendment replaced this with a system of direct election, allowing voters to cast direct votes for senators.
The Seventeenth Amendment also altered the procedure for filling Senate vacancies. It allowed the governor or executive authority of each state, if authorised by that state's legislature, to appoint a senator in the event of a vacancy until a general election occurs. This marked a significant change from the original procedure, which provided for the election of senators by state legislatures for six-year terms.
The transition to the Seventeenth Amendment began with two special elections in Georgia and Maryland, followed by the 1914 election. It was complete on March 4, 1919, when the senators chosen in the 1918 election took office.
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Frequently asked questions
The 17th Amendment changed the way senators were elected, allowing for their direct election by the voting public.
Before the 17th Amendment, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Each state legislature chose two senators to represent their state for a term of six years.
Calls for a constitutional amendment regarding Senate elections started in the early 19th century. The main reason for the change was to address concerns of corruption and electoral deadlocks associated with the previous system.
The 17th Amendment was passed on April 8, 1913, after being proposed by the 62nd Congress in 1912.
