17TH AMENDMENT DECLARED LAW
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 31, 1913, the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution was declared the law of the land by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan.
The text of the Constitution stipulates in ARTICLE I, Section 3...
"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the LEGISLATURE there of, for 6 years..."
According to the Senate Historical Office...
"The framers thought that having senators elected by the legislatures would aid senators because they would be less subject to pressure and have more time to do business."
In 1787, only James Wilson supported direct election of the Senate by popular vote. By 1911, however, the Senate approved the 17th Amendment providing for direct election of Senators by the people. Approval by the House of Representatives followed in 1912 and the required approval of 3/4 of the state legislatures came on April 18, 1913.
The 17th Amendment reads...
"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote."
Support for the amendment in the Congress was not universal. The opposition was led by Elihu Root and George F. Hoar. Senator Hoar said that THE PEOPLE were "less permanent and less trusted" than the members of state legislatures.
*TENNESSEE ratified on April 1, 1913 while Utah, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia DID NOT ratify.
Alabama, Delaware and Maryland ratified after the year 2000.
SOURCE
"The 17th Amendment Observes Its Centennial," The National Archives, www.blogs.archives.gov/
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 31, 1913, the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution was declared the law of the land by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan.
The text of the Constitution stipulates in ARTICLE I, Section 3...
"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the LEGISLATURE there of, for 6 years..."
According to the Senate Historical Office...
"The framers thought that having senators elected by the legislatures would aid senators because they would be less subject to pressure and have more time to do business."
In 1787, only James Wilson supported direct election of the Senate by popular vote. By 1911, however, the Senate approved the 17th Amendment providing for direct election of Senators by the people. Approval by the House of Representatives followed in 1912 and the required approval of 3/4 of the state legislatures came on April 18, 1913.
The 17th Amendment reads...
"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote."
Support for the amendment in the Congress was not universal. The opposition was led by Elihu Root and George F. Hoar. Senator Hoar said that THE PEOPLE were "less permanent and less trusted" than the members of state legislatures.
*TENNESSEE ratified on April 1, 1913 while Utah, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia DID NOT ratify.
Alabama, Delaware and Maryland ratified after the year 2000.
SOURCE
"The 17th Amendment Observes Its Centennial," The National Archives, www.blogs.archives.gov/
17th Amendment
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