17th Amendment

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.

Put the duty of electing senators in the hands of the people. Repealed article 1 section 3. How many senators each state gets.


The US has 100 senators, two from each state. Even though DC has electoral votes they do not have any represenatives.


Some think that the 17th amendment should be repealed, because it goes aganist what the original Constitution wanted. Groups such as the Tea Party, say that by empowering the states it empoweres the people. The original thought of having state legislators electing senators would create a strong relationship between the state and federal government.