Eleanor Finch
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was passed by Congress on May 13, 1912, and ratified on April 8, 1913, changed the way that senators were elected. The amendment provided for the direct election of senators by the voters of their states, replacing the original system where senators were chosen by their state legislatures. This change addressed concerns about legislative elections becoming dominated by the process of selecting senators, distracting voters from other important issues. The Seventeenth Amendment also allowed state legislatures to empower their governors to make temporary appointments to fill Senate vacancies until special elections could be held. Despite its benefits, the amendment has sparked controversies and calls for reform or repeal due to its impact on the balance of power between the federal government and the states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of proposal | June 12, 1911 |
| Date passed by the Senate | April 12, 1912 |
| Date passed by the House | May 13, 1912 |
| Date of ratification | April 8, 1913 |
| Date of direct election | July 15, 1913 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Seventeenth Amendment was passed by the Senate on June 12, 1911
- It was approved by the House of Representatives and then sent to the states for ratification
- Connecticut's approval on April 8, 1913, gave the amendment the required majority
- The Seventeenth Amendment changed a portion of Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution
- It allows for the direct election of US senators by the voters of the states
The Seventeenth Amendment was passed by the Senate on June 12, 1911
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by the Senate on June 12, 1911. The amendment was proposed by Senator Joseph Bristow of Kansas, and it addressed the election of senators.
Prior to the Seventeenth Amendment, senators were chosen by their state legislatures, as outlined in Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution. However, by the early 19th century, there were calls for a constitutional amendment to provide for the popular election of senators. This issue gained prominence in the post-Civil War era, with disputes among state legislators resulting in deadlocks and long-standing Senate vacancies.
The Seventeenth Amendment requires that senators be elected by the people of their states, with each state entitled to two senators serving six-year terms. It also allows state legislatures to empower their executives to make temporary appointments until a special election is held to fill a vacancy.
The amendment was approved by the House of Representatives and then sent to the states for ratification. Connecticut's approval on April 8, 1913, ensured the amendment received the required three-fourths majority for ratification. The direct election of senators, as provided for by the Seventeenth Amendment, marked a significant shift in the way voters selected their representatives, with the first directly elected senator taking office on July 15, 1913.
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It was approved by the House of Representatives and then sent to the states for ratification
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was approved by the House of Representatives on May 13, 1912, by a vote of 238-39, with 110 members not voting. This approval came after the amendment was passed by the Senate on April 12, 1912, with a vote of 42-36.
The Seventeenth Amendment changed a portion of Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution, which originally provided for the appointment of senators by state legislatures. The amendment requires the Senate of the United States to be composed of two senators from each state, elected by the people of that state for a term of six years. Each senator is entitled to one vote, and each state's electors must have the qualifications required for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.
The amendment also addresses vacancies in the Senate. It states that when a vacancy occurs, the executive authority of the state shall issue writs of election to fill the vacancy. In the meantime, the state legislature may empower the executive to make temporary appointments until an election can be held.
Following its approval by the House of Representatives, the Seventeenth Amendment was sent to the states for ratification. Connecticut's approval on April 8, 1913, gave the amendment the required three-fourths majority for ratification. The Seventeenth Amendment was thus ratified and implemented, with the first senator being elected under its terms on July 15, 1913.
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Connecticut's approval on April 8, 1913, gave the amendment the required majority
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed in 1913, provided for the direct election of US senators by the voters of their states. This system of "direct election" was not what the framers of the US Constitution had in mind when they met at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Article I, Section 3 of the US Constitution, as drafted by the framers, stipulated that senators would be chosen by state legislatures.
The push for a direct election process gained momentum in the early 19th century, with Henry R. Storrs proposing an amendment for popular election in 1826. Similar amendments were introduced in 1829 and 1855, with Andrew Johnson raising the issue again in 1868. Following the Civil War, disputes among state legislators over Senate elections resulted in deadlocks, leaving Senate seats vacant for extended periods.
In 1911, Senator Joseph Bristow of Kansas proposed a Senate resolution to amend the Constitution, and soon, other senators joined the call for reform. Senator William Borah of Idaho, who was elected through a state-based system of direct election, strongly supported the measure. By 1912, 29 states elected US senators through their party's primary or a general election. These popularly elected senators advocated for a direct election process.
The amendment passed through the Senate on June 12, 1911, and moved to the House of Representatives, which approved it, and then to the states for ratification. On April 8, 1913, Connecticut's approval gave the Seventeenth Amendment the required three-fourths majority for ratification. This amendment significantly altered the electoral process by empowering the voters of each state to directly elect their senators, strengthening democratic representation in the US Senate.
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The Seventeenth Amendment changed a portion of Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, or Amendment XVII, changed a portion of Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution. This amendment was proposed by the 62nd Congress in 1912 and became part of the Constitution on April 8, 1913, after ratification by three-quarters (36) of the state legislatures.
The Seventeenth Amendment established the direct election of United States senators in each state. This was a significant change from the original system, where senators were appointed by state legislatures. The amendment also altered the procedure for filling Senate vacancies, allowing state legislatures to authorise their governors to make temporary appointments until a special election could be held.
The push for the Seventeenth Amendment arose from concerns that legislative elections were becoming dominated by the selection of senators, distracting voters from other important issues. As early as 1826, there were calls for direct popular elections of senators, but none of these proposals succeeded. By 1910, 31 state legislatures had passed resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment to allow direct elections, and the reform gained further support from senators elected through party primaries.
The Seventeenth Amendment states that the Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, elected by the people for six-year terms, and each senator shall have one vote. This amendment did not affect the election or term of any senator chosen before it became valid as part of the Constitution. The transition to the new system began with special elections in Georgia and Maryland, and was complete by March 4, 1919, when the senators chosen in the November 1918 election took office.
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It allows for the direct election of US senators by the voters of the states
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was passed in 1912 and ratified in 1913, allows for the direct election of US senators by the voters of the states. This amendment altered the original process of electing senators, which was outlined in Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution, and provided for the appointment of senators by state legislatures.
Prior to the Seventeenth Amendment, each state legislature chose its senators for a six-year term. This was known as the "indirect" method of electing senators, as opposed to the direct method of popular vote. The shift to direct election meant that voters in each state would now directly elect their senators, rather than relying on state legislatures to make those decisions.
The push for a constitutional amendment regarding Senate elections began as early as 1826, with proposals and similar amendments introduced over the years. However, it was not until the early 20th century that the issue gained traction. By 1911, Senator Joseph Bristow of Kansas offered a Senate resolution to amend the Constitution, and soon after, the amendment was passed by the Senate and moved to the House of Representatives for approval.
The direct election of senators was seen as a way to reduce the influence of special interests on the selection of senators and to prevent vacancies or frequent turnover caused by party politics at the state level. Additionally, it allowed for greater representation of the people's interests in the Senate, as senators would now be directly accountable to the voters who elected them.
The Seventeenth Amendment also provided for the governor of a state to call a special election to fill any vacancies in the Senate. This ensured that the people's voice in electing their representatives was maintained even when unexpected vacancies occurred. Overall, the Seventeenth Amendment marked a significant shift in the way US senators were chosen, giving more power to the voters and ensuring that the Senate better represented the will of the people.
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Frequently asked questions
The Seventeenth Amendment was added to the US Constitution in 1913.
The 17th Amendment provided for the direct election of US senators by the voters of their states.
The 17th Amendment changed a portion of Article I, Section 3 of the US Constitution, which had provided for the appointment of senators by state legislatures.
The amendment was first proposed by Senator Joseph Bristow of Kansas in 1911 and passed by the Senate on June 12, 1911. It was then approved by the House of Representatives and sent to the states for ratification. The amendment was ratified by three-fourths of the states by April 8, 1913.
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