Isabella Carter
The United States Senate is composed of 100 members, with each state having two senators serving six-year terms. Before the ratification of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution in 1913, senators were chosen by their state legislatures. This was based on the belief that since senators represented their states, the state legislature should elect them. However, issues such as repeated vacant seats, intrastate political struggles, and corruption led to growing calls for reform. The 17th Amendment now requires senators to be directly elected by the people of each state, with winners decided by a plurality rule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who voted for the members of the Senate | State legislatures |
| Who voted for the members of the House of Representatives | Popular vote |
| When did state legislatures stop voting for senators? | 1913, with the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution |
| Who votes for senators now? | The people of each state |
| How often are senators elected? | Every six years |
| How often does one-third of the Senate stand for election? | Every two years |
| Who appoints a replacement in the case of a vacancy due to the death or resignation of a senator? | The governor, if empowered by the state legislature |
| Who was the first senator directly elected under the Seventeenth Amendment? | Augustus Bacon of Georgia |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution originally stated that senators were chosen by state legislatures
- The Seventeenth Amendment changed this to allow for the popular election of senators
- The length of terms for senators was a topic of debate at the 1787 Constitutional Convention
- The Constitution grants the Senate powers to check and balance other government elements
- The vice president of the US is the president of the Senate and can vote in the case of a tie
The US Constitution originally stated that senators were chosen by state legislatures
The United States Constitution originally stated that senators were chosen by state legislatures. This was decided at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where delegates debated the Senate class system and the length of terms. On June 7, 1787, the delegates approved a motion for the election of senators by state legislatures. Each state legislature chose two senators for a six-year term, regardless of the state's size. This was known as the Connecticut Compromise between small and large states.
The advantages of this system were that it strengthened the states' ties to the national government and insulated senators from shifting public opinion. However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, electoral deadlocks and growing public concern about corruption led to calls for reform. Reformers in many states, such as Oregon, began advocating for a change to the system of electing senators, allowing voters to express their choice directly.
The Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution, proposed by the 62nd Congress in 1912, provided for the direct election of senators by the people of each state. The amendment was ratified in 1913, and the first popular Senate elections were held in 1914. This amendment replaced the phrase "chosen by the Legislature thereof" with "elected by the people thereof" in the Constitution.
The transition to direct elections for senators brought about a significant change in the process of electing senators, shifting from elections by state legislatures to popular vote. This amendment also allowed governors to appoint a replacement senator in the event of a vacancy and set a date for a special election to choose a successor to serve the remainder of the term.
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The Seventeenth Amendment changed this to allow for the popular election of senators
The Seventeenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution changed the system of electing senators, allowing for the popular election of senators by the people. This amendment was a significant shift from the original framework established by the framers of the Constitution, who envisioned senators being chosen by state legislatures.
The push for the Seventeenth Amendment arose from a series of issues related to Senate elections in the late 19th century. State legislatures frequently deadlocked over the election of senators, resulting in prolonged Senate vacancies. In some cases, political machines exerted influence over state legislatures, leading to allegations of senators being mere puppets. These concerns sparked calls for reform, with reformers across various states advocating for a direct election process. Oregon, for instance, implemented measures in the early 20th century that empowered voters to directly select their preferred senator.
The first proposal for a constitutional amendment to introduce popular elections for senators emerged in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1826. However, it failed to garner significant support until the late 19th century. During the 1890s, the House passed several resolutions advocating for a constitutional amendment, but the Senate consistently blocked these efforts. In response, reformers shifted their focus to utilising Article V of the Constitution, which required Congress to convene for proposing amendments when two-thirds of state legislatures requested it.
A pivotal moment occurred in 1911 when Senator Joseph Bristow of Kansas introduced a Senate resolution to amend the Constitution, which gained traction among other senators. The House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 39, proposing a constitutional amendment for the direct election of senators. After removing a "race rider" provision, the amended resolution was adopted by the Senate in May 1911 and later accepted by the House. On April 8, 1913, the required three-quarters of the states ratified the amendment, marking its official inclusion as the Seventeenth Amendment.
The Seventeenth Amendment specifically altered Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution, replacing the phrase "chosen by the Legislature thereof" with "elected by the people thereof." This amendment ensured that each state's two senators would be elected by popular vote for six-year terms. Additionally, it empowered state governors or executive authorities to make temporary senatorial appointments in cases of vacancy until a general election could be held.
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The length of terms for senators was a topic of debate at the 1787 Constitutional Convention
The 1787 Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention of 1787, was a pivotal gathering where delegates debated and established the structure and powers of Congress, as outlined in Article I of the US Constitution. One of the key topics of discussion was the length of terms for senators, which sparked a lively exchange among the delegates.
The Virginia Plan, which laid the groundwork for the initial debates at the Convention, notably did not specify a fixed length of term for senators or members of the House of Congress. Instead, it proposed that senators should hold office for a term that ensures their independence. This left the question of term length open for debate, and the delegates considered various options.
On June 25, 1787, Nathaniel Gorham, a delegate from Massachusetts, proposed a four-year term for senators, suggesting that one-fourth of the senators be elected each year. However, Edmund Randolph of Virginia favoured a staggered rotation with seven-year terms. This idea was challenged by Hugh Williamson of North Carolina, who argued that six-year terms would be more easily divisible into equal election cycles.
The following day, June 26, Gorham shifted his position and advocated for a six-year term, with one-third of the senators going out every second year. This proposal gained traction, and the delegates ultimately adopted the six-year, three-class Senate system by a vote of 7 to 4. The framers of the Constitution believed that staggered elections would bring stability to the Senate and, by extension, to the emerging national government. They also hoped that class rotations would facilitate gradual change, prevent senators from forming permanent alliances for "sinister purposes," and foster a deliberative environment.
The delegates' decision to establish six-year terms for senators reflected their desire to strike a balance between independence and accountability. James Madison, in Federalist No. 62, defended six-year terms, arguing that they would reduce turnover in the legislature, enable senators to take responsibility for their actions over time, and shield them from the transient influences of public opinion. This debate over term lengths underscored the delegates' commitment to crafting a government that balanced power between the states and the nation, addressing concerns about an overbearing central authority.
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The Constitution grants the Senate powers to check and balance other government elements
The United States Constitution, drafted in 1787, established a system of checks and balances to ensure that no one branch of the government held too much power. The Constitution grants the Senate several powers to check and balance other government elements, including the House of Representatives and the President.
The Senate, as part of Congress, shares the power to make laws with the House of Representatives. This power is outlined in Article I of the Constitution, which states that "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives." This division of legislative power between two chambers, known as bicameralism, acts as a check on the power of the legislative branch as a whole by requiring both chambers to agree on legislation.
The Senate also plays a role in appointing executive officers and judges, as well as in ratifying treaties. The Constitution requires the President to obtain the Senate's consent for these appointments and treaties, giving the Senate a check on the executive power of the President. This aspect of checks and balances was defended by James Madison, who argued that "ambition must be made to counteract ambition."
The length of terms for senators was also designed with checks and balances in mind. The Constitution established six-year terms for senators, with one-third of the Senate's members being elected or reelected every two years. This staggered election system was intended to bring stability to the Senate and prevent senators from combining for "sinister purposes." The longer terms also made senators less susceptible to public opinion, allowing them to take a more detached view of issues than representatives, who were elected directly by the people every two years.
Additionally, the method of electing senators has changed over time, shifting the balance of power between the states and the federal government. Originally, state legislatures chose their state's senators. However, this changed with the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1913, which provided for the popular election of senators. Some groups, such as members of the Tea Party movement, have argued for repealing this amendment to reduce federal power and protect states' rights.
Overall, the Constitution grants the Senate significant powers to check and balance other elements of the government, including the House of Representatives and the President, to ensure a balanced distribution of power.
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The vice president of the US is the president of the Senate and can vote in the case of a tie
The United States Constitution has undergone several amendments since its inception, including the Seventeenth Amendment, which changed how members of the Senate are elected. Originally, state legislatures elected senators for their states. This method of election was in place until the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified in 1913, providing for the popular election of senators.
The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and can vote in the case of a tie. This power has been wielded by several vice presidents throughout history, including John Adams, who cast 29 tie-breaking votes during his tenure, and John C. Calhoun, who was the only vice president to cast tie-breaking votes against his own president. More recently, Vice President Kamala Harris played a critical role in passing Democratic legislation in the evenly split 117th Congress, setting records for the most tie-breaking votes in her first year and in a single day.
The role of the vice president as President of the Senate is outlined in the Constitution, which states that the vice president "shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided." This means that the vice president only votes in the case of a tie, and their vote is often crucial in breaking the deadlock and passing legislation.
The power of the vice president's tie-breaking vote has had significant consequences throughout history. For example, John Adams used his votes to preserve the president's authority over the removal of appointees and influence the location of the national capital. Similarly, John C. Calhoun cast a tie-breaking vote to defeat President Andrew Jackson's nomination, showcasing the potential for the vice president to shape policy and personnel decisions.
The increase in the frequency of tie-breaking votes by the vice president in recent years has been attributed to a closely divided Senate, with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. This situation has led to the vice president being called upon more frequently to cast the deciding vote, showcasing the critical role they can play in shaping legislation and policy.
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Frequently asked questions
Before 1913, state legislatures elected senators.
Senators served six-year terms.
Senator Joseph Bristow of Kansas offered a resolution to amend the Constitution in 1911.
The Oregon Plan.
Augustus Bacon of Georgia.
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