seventeenth amendment united_states constitution seventeenth amendment amendment united_states_constitution established popular election people states amendment article clauses constitution senators elected state procedure filling senate allowing state permit governors temporary appointments special election held amendment proposed 62nd congress law ratified required state implemented special elections maryland november alabama nationwide november election text senate united_states shall composed senators state elected people thereof years senator shall vote state shall qualifications numerous branch state happen representation state senate executive authority state shall issue election fill provided legislature state executive thereof temporary appointments people fill election legislature direct amendment shall affect election term senator chosen valid constitution background original composition originally article clauses constitution state legislature elected state senators year term state regardless size entitled senators connecticut compromise small large states contrasted house_of_representatives body elected popular vote described decision time sole advocate popularly senate proposal defeated advantages original method senators prior constitution federal body states effectively formed permanent treaties citizens retaining loyalty original state constitution states central government election senators states anti protection states powers federal government providing check power federal government additionally longer terms avoidance popular election turned senate body temper house representatives operated year direct election cycle making frequently constituents senators afford detached view issues coming congress state retained theoretical right senators vote proposals giving states direct indirect representation federal government senate formal members senate house responsible completely distinct helped defeat problem federal government subject special interests members considered senate equivalent upper house containing better men society hoped provide stability house_of_representatives senators status issues according judge favor popular elections senators believed primary problems caused original provisions legislative corruption electoral sense elections bought sold changing hands favors sums money candidate senate investigated elections corruption example election senate concluded bought votes montana legislature analysts believe concern largely hard information subject century legislative elections senators cases contested allegations electoral issue state charged deciding appoint senators system relied able agree states delayed sending representatives congress cases system broke point states completely lacked representation senate started issue 1850s dead locked indiana legislature allowing senate seat sit vacant years elections different states extreme example senate seat delaware went business holding elections caused great disruption state choosing swear oath office dispute open senate seat result legislature unable pass legislation year argues issue problem exception norm elections 19th century newly admitted western states suffered inexperienced weak party discipline western gained experience frequent utah suffered good teaching experience utah failed elect senators concern occurred state unable conduct normal business writing notes fact occur situation state deal matter holding vote beginning day legislators continue normal affairs state legislative elections perceived dominated business picking senators senator noted senate vital issue legislative campaigns policy qualifications state legislative candidates ignored voters interested indirect senate election remedy state created advisory elections served facto general elections allowing legislative campaigns focus local issues calls reform calls constitutional amendment senate elections started early 19th century proposing amendment provide popular election similar amendments introduced prominent proponent raised issue considered idea merits additional explanation necessary 1860s major congressional dispute issue house senate voting veto appointment senate approval majority vote office reaction congress passed bill july required state elect senators absolute majority 1890s support introduction direct election senate substantially increased worked fronts incorporated direct election senators platform adopted oregon passed law based selection senators popular vote oregon soon followed nebraska proponents popular election noted states non binding senate candidates candidates voted public effectively serving advisory instructing state vote campaigned states introduce similar method opened nationwide popular readership direct election senators series articles flamboyant language attacking treason senate yellow journalists president called described rhode_island principal traitor lot control senate theft bribes state gain election senate state began petition congress direct election senators house thirds vote amendment joint resolution reached senate failed neglect time house approved appropriate resolution time died senate second national legislative worked constitutional amendment strongly supported house_of_representatives initially opposed senate notes state lose power reforms went supportive campaign state passed resolutions calling constitutional amendment allowing direct election year republican senators opposed reform forced seats acting wake senate included opponents counted respected figures number root cared strongly issue passage seventeenth amendment refused stand election senate argued popular election highlighting perceived flaws existing system specifically corruption electoral populist sentiment important populist argument need senators acute sense responsibility people felt lacked election state seen step wishes american people led senate sort aristocratic body far removed people reach special interest welfare settlement west continuing absorption hundreds thousands immigrants expanded sense people replied people permanent trusted body state moving responsibility election senators passing hands body lasted day changing renowned senators elected directly large number senators experience house directly elected constitutional amendment pointless reform considered opponents threaten rights independence states sovereign entitled separate branch congress send ambassadors countered argument change mode senators elected change responsibilities senate freshman class brought new hope fourteen thirty newly elected senators elected party amounted popular choice states half states form primary selection senate senate finally joined house submit seventeenth amendment states ratification nearly ninety years presented senate political parties state national level pledged form direct election states introduced use direct seven states called constitutional convention subject states needed reach threshold arizona new_mexico achieved year bringing total number states expected support motion alabama wyoming states passed resolutions favor convention formally calling proposal ratification proposed congress house_of_representatives passed house joint resolution proposing constitutional amendment direct election senators included race rider meant bar federal intervention cases racial discrimination voters turn century blacks south poor whites state passing provisions practice meant millions population political representation south party states resolution came senate substitute resolution rider proposed kansas adopted vote voting nearly year later house accepted change conference report seventeenth amendment approved senate april house voting ratification states having passed congress amendment sent states ratification ratified massachusetts arizona june minnesota june new_york january kansas january oregon january north_carolina january california january michigan january iowa january montana january idaho january west_virginia february colorado february nevada february texas february washington february wyoming february arkansas february maine february illinois february february wisconsin february indiana february new_hampshire february vermont february south february oklahoma february ohio february missouri march new mexico march nebraska march new_jersey march tennessee april pennsylvania april connecticut april states having ratified seventeenth amendment certified secretary state constitution amendment subsequently ratified louisiana june alabama april delaware july rejecting amendment march maryland april rhode_island june utah legislature rejected amendment february action amendment completed florida georgia kentucky mississippi south_carolina virginia effect seventeenth amendment altered process changed way filled original constitutional provision state filled senator left office end term seventeenth amendment provides state grant governors right temporary appointments special election provided fill seat power election granted governor immediate dramatic impact political composition supreme_court required man vote rural counties cities given equal weight state enabling rural vote equal city votes state given republicans control senate senate elections direct election vote represented equally democrats retained control senate reputation corrupt arbitrary state continued decline senate joined house_of_representatives implementing popular reforms judge argued amendment led complete state props state based check congress progressive measures enacted enable federal government states repeatedly decades argues separation state senate beneficial effect states allowed state legislative campaigns focus local national issues new deal legislation example expanding federal regulation state promoting local state interests coal oil corn cotton agrees saying senator free ignore state interests senators incentive use advice consent powers install supreme_court justices inclined increase federal power expense state sovereignty half 20th century popularly elected senate confirming nominations republican democratic supreme_court began apply bill rights states state laws harmed individual state citizens direct elections senate oklahoma admitted chose senator legislative election times twice admitted oklahoma reelected advisory popular vote new_mexico admitted chose senators arizona admitted chose senators advisory popular vote alaska hawaii admitted chosen senator direct elections senate following seventeenth amendment adopted maryland november class special election vacancy term ending alabama class special election vacancy term ending nationwide class senators term nationwide class senators term nationwide class senators term interpretation advocacy reform pennsylvania circuit faced situation following death senator pennsylvania governor provided replacement special election include primary voter prospective candidate argued lack primary violated seventeenth amendment right vote fourteenth amendment circuit rejected arguments ruling seventeenth amendment require subject analysis statutes restricting authority governors appoint temporary replacements constitutional writing hastings constitutional law quarterly claims wyoming requirement governor fill vacancy person party person vacated senate seat seventeenth amendment based text seventeenth amendment states legislature state executive thereof temporary appointments amendment legislature delegate authority governor authority delegated permit legislature intervene authority decide governor shall power appoint temporary senators fashion argues engaging interpretation examining meaning constitutional provisions interpret fashion provides benefit able restrict gubernatorial appointment authority provides substantial benefit states controversy effects seventeenth amendment advocates emerged reform repeal amendment president barack_obama administration sitting democratic senators left senate appointed executive branch positions barack_obama president vice president secretary state secretary interior controversies developed successor appointments illinois governor new_york governor new interest aroused provision senate appointment governor accordingly senator wisconsin representative david california proposed amendment remove power senators john_mccain sponsors representative movement arguing seventeenth amendment entirely claiming protect states rights reduce power federal government march utah legislature approved senate joint resolution asking congress offer amendment united_states constitution repeal seventeenth amendment
Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution