The 17th Amendment changed how U.S. Senators were chosen. What is the change?

The 17th Amendment changed how U.S. Senators were chosen. What is the change?

• A. Direct election of U.S. Senators by voters
• B. Appointment by governors
• C. Lifetime appointment by the President
• D. Selection by state legislatures

Answer: (D)

The change being tested is the shift from having state legislatures choose U.S. Senators to having the people vote directly for their Senators. The 17th Amendment in effect says that Senators are to be elected by the voters of each state, for six-year terms, instead of being selected by the state legislature. This expanded democratic participation and reduced the influence of state legislatures over who sits in the Senate. Vacancies can be filled temporarily by the state’s executive (often the governor) until a special election, but the defining change is the move to direct popular elections by voters.

The change being tested is the shift from having state legislatures choose U.S. Senators to having the people vote directly for their Senators. The 17th Amendment in effect says that Senators are to be elected by the voters of each state, for six-year terms, instead of being selected by the state legislature. This expanded democratic participation and reduced the influence of state legislatures over who sits in the Senate. Vacancies can be filled temporarily by the state’s executive (often the governor) until a special election, but the defining change is the move to direct popular elections by voters.