The Seventeenth Amendment

Amendment XVII

"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. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election  to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution."

This Amendment says that each state gets 2 senators, the ones that will be elected by the people who lives in the state, instead of being appointed by the state legislature. The Senators are elected for a six year term. If a Senator leaves the office before they finish their term for any reason then the governor of the state will appoint someone to cover the position.

What's Wrong with the 17th Amendment?

Comment:

Like the video said the Seventeenth Amendment seemed to be more democratic by allowing voters to elect senators directly rather than being appointed by the state legislation. However this takes some of the powers away from the states, and it wasn't the intended purpose of the Founding Fathers.

Buck Said He Supports Repeal of 17th Amendment



Comment:

According to this video, many people in office are against the Seventeenth Amendment, since this Amendment has beeing misunderstood. The power as I said in my post above, is taking the power away from the states, and this is the cause for wantingto repeal the Seventeenth Amendment.