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Understanding the 17th Amendment: Direct Election of U.S. Senators

The 17th Amendment, proposed on May 15, 1912, and ratified on May 13, 1913, changed how U.S. Senators are elected. Originally, state legislatures selected senators, which often led to deadlocks and unrepresented states. The new method empowers citizens to vote directly for their senators, enhancing democracy. This change was partly motivated by the desire to reduce the influence of elite interests, known as the "Millionaires' Club." While the amendment has increased representation, discussions continue about the merits of direct election versus state legislature selection.

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Understanding the 17th Amendment: Direct Election of U.S. Senators

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  1. Election of the Senators 17th Amendment Monday, September 1, 2014

  2. 17th Amendment • Proposed on May 15, 1912 • Ratified on May 13, 1913 http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aNb9AoY5XXE/0.jpg

  3. Original Method • State legislature represented the state • No laws allowing people to create bills or vote directly US SENATE PA STATE LEGISLATURE http://www.jessicaselig.com/Harrisburg/Harrisburg%20Rotunda%20Capital1.jpg

  4. Millionaires Club • Senate was called Millionaires Club • Served powerful private interests

  5. http://www.usm.maine.edu/~dsonenberg/Blog/files/election-box New Method • People of the state elect senators by voting on election day. US SENATE

  6. Senators Casey, Robert P., Jr. Pat Toomey http://www.yorkchamber.com/clientuploads/Toomey.Congressman.jpg http://www.barrettlibrary.org/photos/localgov/casey.jpg

  7. Method of Filling Vacancies Original Method New Method • State Legislatures chose person to fill vacant Senate seat. • In the 19th century, some state legislatures deadlocked over the election of a senator. • When deadlocked, a state would go without representation in the Senate. • When vacancies open, the executive authority of the state selects person to finish Senate term till the next election.

  8. Barack Obama's Senate Vacancy Scandal • Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich arrested for being accused of plotting to sell Obama’s Senate seat. http://www.lakedemocrats.org/dupage/blag.jpg

  9. Senate Vacancy Scandal Convicted Criminals Rod Blagojevich http://www.nypost.com/rw/nypost/2012/03/15/news/web_photos/BlagojevichPrison150902--300x300.jpg http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/blogpost/Images/Blagojevich_Sentencing_0ec7e.jpg?uuid=q0qJGiDlEeGB9Ovx4U7uEg

  10. Fixed problems • State legislature was over controlling • Too much power laid within state legislature's hands.

  11. http://www.motherjones.com/files/images/blog_17th_amendment.jpghttp://www.motherjones.com/files/images/blog_17th_amendment.jpg Why some people want to repeal 17th Amendment • Preserve power for their part • Threat of ending unnecessary • Senate that would work to gradually reduce • Citizens would have final say • Vastly increased federal power • The state legislatures would then have the ability to decentralize power when appropriate http://craigwwright.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/structure_of_u_s_government.jpg

  12. Federalism • Procedural problem in the original concept • Not because of a need to alter the balance of power V

  13. Problem Led to Amendment • The main problem was the state legislatures' right to appoint United States Senators in favor of popular election of those officials.

  14. Problem Fixed • Direct election of Senators by the people of a state. • Allows governor of each state, authorized by that state's legislature, to appoint a senator in the event of an opening, until an election occurs.

  15. Importance Today • On a scale of one to ten, I would rate it a seven. • America should some say in who represents them. • One shouldn't have all of the power http://www.freeclipartnow.com/d/40064-1/gold-number-7.jpg

  16. Bibliography • "The 17th Amendment to the Constitution." Bookrags. N.p., 2006. Web. 11 Feb.      2010. <http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2005/9/1/175117/4506>. • "Calls For Complete Repeal." Wikipedia. N.p., Feb.-Mar. 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2010.      <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/      Seventeenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution#Calls_for_complete • _repeal>. • "CRS Report for Congress." Rev. of House and Senate Vacancies: How are they filled?Senate.Gov. N.p., Jan. 2003. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.      <http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Vacancies.pdf>. • "Repeal the 17th Amendment." Articlev. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2010.      <http://www.articlev.com/Repeal17/repeal_the_17th_amendment.htm>.

  17. Bibliography(Cont.) • "Simulating Repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment." Redstate. N.p., 2010. Web. 21      Feb. 2010. <http://www.redstate.com/andrewhyman/2010/01/22/      simulating-repeal-of-the-seventeenth-amendment/>. • "The Spirit of Jefferson Lives In Virgina." Blogspot. N.p., Feb.-Mar. 2010. Web.      21 Feb. 2010. <http://repealthe17thamendment.blogspot.com/>. • "U.S. Constitution: Seventeenth Amendment." FIndLaw. N.p., 2010. Web. 18 Feb.      2010. <http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/Constitution/amendment17/>. • "Why Blagojevich scandal on Senate vacancy can push us to elections, not      selections ." FairVote. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2010.      <http://www.fairvote.org/      why-blagojevich-scandal-on-senate-vacancy-can-push-us-to-elections-not-selections>. • "Repeal The 17th Amendment." Tenth Amendment Center. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb.      2010. <http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2008/10/24/      repeal-the-17th-amendment/>.

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