Ratified on April 8, 1913, the Seventeenth Amendment (Amendment XVII) to the United States Constitution changed the method by which United States Senators were elected. For the first 125 years Article 1, section 3 of the Constitution required US Senators to be elected by the state legislatures. A number of problems in the United States Senate created the need to change how Senators were elected from indirect to direct elections by the people of the United States.
Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Questions and Answers
Q: When was the Seventeenth Amendment ratified?
A: The Seventeenth Amendment was ratified on April 8, 1913.
Q: What did the Seventeenth Amendment change?
A: The Seventeenth Amendment changed the method by which United States Senators were elected.
Q: How were US Senators elected before the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified?
A: Before the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified, US Senators were elected by the state legislatures.
Q: How long did the original method of electing US Senators stay in place?
A: The original method of electing US Senators stayed in place for 125 years.
Q: What created the need to change how Senators were elected?
A: A number of problems in the United States Senate created the need to change how Senators were elected.
Q: What did the Seventeenth Amendment change the method of electing Senators from?
A: The Seventeenth Amendment changed the method of electing Senators from indirect to direct elections by the people of the United States.
Q: What section of the Constitution required US Senators to be elected by the state legislatures?
A: Article 1, section 3 of the Constitution required US Senators to be elected by the state legislatures.