Simone Lawson
The original US Constitution, as adopted in 1788, gave state legislatures the power to elect senators. Each state legislature elected two senators to serve six-year terms. This was the case until the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution was adopted in 1913, which provided for the direct election of senators by the people of each state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who chose the senators | State legislatures |
| Length of term | Six years |
| Number of senators per state | Two |
| Age requirement | 30 years or older |
| Citizenship requirement | Nine years as a citizen of the United States |
| Residency requirement | Must be an inhabitant of the state they represent |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Senators were chosen by state legislatures
The original US Constitution, as adopted in 1788, stated that senators would be chosen by state legislatures. Each state legislature would elect two senators to serve six-year terms. This was seen as an improvement over the British House of Lords, where members were appointed for life. The decision was influenced by James Madison, one of the primary authors of the Constitution, who asserted that this method would give states a sense of authority and legitimacy in selecting their federal representatives. This view was shared by George Mason, who argued that having state legislatures choose senators would act as a bulwark against federal overreach.
The election of senators by state legislatures was also intended to strengthen the states' ties to the national government and insulate senators from shifting public opinion. To further distance the Senate from democratic pressures, the framers of the Constitution stipulated that only one-third of the Senate would stand for election every two years. This was part of a compromise between small and large states known as the Connecticut Compromise, which guaranteed each state two senators regardless of its size.
However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this method of electing senators came under scrutiny due to increasing instances of electoral deadlock and concerns about corruption. Wealthy and influential candidates could easily bribe state legislatures to secure their appointment, and partisan disagreements often resulted in vacant Senate seats for extended periods. Delaware, for example, went unrepresented in the Senate for two years due to a stalemate in its legislature.
As a result, reformers began calling for a change to the system, with over half of the states adopting the "Oregon System," which utilized state primary elections to identify voters' choices for senator. In 1912, Congress passed the 17th Amendment, providing for the direct election of senators by the people of each state. The amendment was ratified in 1913, marking a shift towards greater democratic participation in the election of senators.
The US Cabinet: A Comprehensive Overview of Positions
You may want to see also
Each state had two senators
The original US Constitution, as adopted in 1788, stated that each state legislature would elect two senators to represent their state in Congress for a six-year term. This was part of the Connecticut Compromise, which aimed to give equal representation to small and large states. Each state, regardless of its size, was entitled to two senators, while the House of Representatives was elected by popular vote. James Madison, one of the primary authors of the Constitution, asserted that having state legislatures choose their senators would give states a sense of authority and legitimacy in selecting federal representatives.
The original method of electing senators was seen as advantageous as it preserved harmony by calming fears about the dangers of a strong centralised government. State legislatures were also believed to provide the necessary "filtration" to produce better senators, resulting in a body composed of the "elect of the elected". This dual constituency, with one body elected directly by the people and the other chosen by state legislators, was intended to foster a diverse range of perspectives and opinions in political dialogue.
The Constitution granted state legislatures the power to elect senators, strengthening states' ties to the national government and insulating senators from fluctuating public opinion. To further distance the Senate from democratic pressures, the framers ensured that only one-third of the Senate would stand for election every two years. This system of electing senators by state legislatures continued until the adoption of the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1913.
The Seventeenth Amendment, passed by Congress in 1912 and ratified in 1913, modified the Constitution by allowing voters to directly elect their senators. This amendment responded to growing concerns about electoral deadlocks in state legislatures and corruption in Senate elections. Despite the original intent of the Constitution's framers, the Seventeenth Amendment marked a shift towards direct democracy in the election of US senators.
France's Constitutional Monarchy: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
Senators served six-year terms
The original US Constitution, which was adopted in 1788, stated that senators would be chosen by state legislatures for six-year terms. Each state, regardless of size, was entitled to two senators as part of the Connecticut Compromise. This was an uncontroversial decision at the time, with James Wilson being the sole advocate for the popular election of the Senate.
The six-year term was decided upon by the Convention delegates, who turned to the practices of state governments for inspiration. While the majority of states set one-year terms for both houses of their legislatures, five state constitutions established longer terms for upper house members. For example, South Carolina's senators served two-year terms, while senators in Delaware served three-year terms.
The six-year term was defended by James Madison in Federalist No. 62, who argued that it would have a stabilizing effect on the new national government. He believed that long terms would reduce turnover in the legislature, allow senators to take responsibility for measures over time, and make senators largely independent of public opinion.
However, there were also concerns about senators losing sight of their state's interests with longer terms. Connecticut's Roger Sherman, for example, preferred four-year terms, arguing that frequent elections would "preserve the good behavior of rulers."
In the early 20th century, there were growing calls for a change to the system of electing senators, as some state legislatures deadlocked over the election of senators, leaving Senate seats vacant for long periods. Over half of the states adopted the "Oregon System," which utilized a state primary election to identify the voters' choice for senator.
In 1912, the 17th Amendment was proposed, which modified Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution, allowing voters to cast direct votes for senators. The amendment was passed by Congress on May 13, 1912, and ratified on April 8, 1913, marking a shift towards direct election of senators by the people.
Alabama's Constitution: Longest in the World?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
State governments had a say in federal government
Before the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed in 1913, state legislatures elected senators. Each state legislature would elect two senators to serve six-year terms. This was decided at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where it was also agreed that senators had to be at least thirty years old, a citizen of the United States for nine years, and an inhabitant of the state they were chosen to represent.
The Seventeenth Amendment modified Article I, Section 3, of the Constitution, allowing voters to directly elect their senators. The amendment was proposed by the 62nd Congress in 1912 and became part of the Constitution on April 8, 1913, after ratification by three-quarters of state legislatures. The first popular Senate elections were held in 1914.
The original method of electing senators gave state governments a say in the federal government. James Madison, one of the primary authors of the Constitution, asserted that having state legislatures choose their senators would give states a sense of authority and legitimacy in selecting representatives for the federal government. George Mason, in Federalist No. 62, argued that this method acted as a bulwark against federal overreach. Additionally, supporters of the Constitution argued that this method would strengthen the states' ties to the national government and insulate senators from shifting public opinion.
However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were increasing calls for reform due to electoral deadlocks in state legislatures and concerns about corruption in Senate elections. Over half of the states adopted the "Oregon system," which utilized a state primary election to identify the voters' choice for senator. The 1912 Senate investigation of bribery and corruption in the election of Illinois Senator William Lorimer indicated that only a constitutional amendment mandating the direct election of senators by a state's citizenry would satisfy public demands for reform.
Criminal Law: Defining Felonies and Misdemeanors
You may want to see also
Direct election of senators by popular vote
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on April 8, 1913, changed the process of electing senators by allowing for their direct election by popular vote. Before the amendment, state legislatures chose senators for their states, with each state legislature electing two senators to six-year terms. This was considered an uncontroversial decision at the time, as it gave states a sense of authority and legitimacy in selecting their federal representatives.
However, there were growing concerns about the original method of electing senators. One issue was the potential for corruption, as wealthier and more influential candidates could bribe state legislatures to secure their appointment. Another problem was electoral deadlock, where state legislatures failed to agree on the selection of senators, resulting in vacant Senate seats for extended periods. Late in the 19th century, some state legislatures deadlocked over Senate elections due to partisan control of different houses.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was increasing support for the direct election of senators. The Populist Party's Omaha Platform in 1892 advocated for direct election, and Oregon became the first state to conduct senatorial elections by popular vote in 1908. Other states followed suit, adopting the "Oregon Plan" for election reform.
The Seventeenth Amendment addressed these concerns by allowing voters to cast direct votes for their state's senators. The amendment also provided for temporary appointments by state governors to fill Senate vacancies until a special election could be held. This amendment marked a significant shift in the election of senators, empowering the voting public to have a direct say in their representation.
The direct election of senators by popular vote has been a lasting reform, with voters selecting senators in the privacy of the voting booth since 1913. This reform was a departure from the original intent of the Constitution's framers, who envisioned election by state legislatures. While there have been calls to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment, it remains in place, ensuring the direct election of senators by the people they represent.
When Should You Pull Over?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Senators were chosen by state legislatures.
Senators were elected for six-year terms.
It was argued that having state legislatures choose senators would strengthen the states' ties to the national government and insulate senators from shifting public opinion.
Yes, it was also believed that this method would give the states a sense of authority and legitimacy in selecting representatives for the federal government.
This method of choosing senators changed with the Seventeenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which was proposed in 1912 and ratified in 1913. The amendment allowed for the direct election of senators by the people of each state.
