Wednesday, May 13, 2009

17th Amendment in the House

Popularly elected U.S. SenateEight dozen and one year ago today, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution of those United States was passed by the United States House of Representatives.

Posted by J.K. Baltzersen at 9:48 AM

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2 comments:

El Jefe Maximo said...

I have always thought that amendment was singularly ill-advised. Direct election of Senators divorced Washington further from the concerns and influence of regional elites; strengthening the central government (as if it needed such) at the expense of the States, and further contibuting to the unbalance in favor of urban elites over rural elites.

May 14, 2009 at 8:01 PM
J.K. Baltzersen said...

Direct elections of U.S. Senators or not is of course the main issue, sir, not the amendment in itself.

Presidential electors are popularly elected. It seems no one gives any alternative a thought. However, it would be perfectly legal and constitutional for a state legislature (if we look solely at the federal Constitution and federal laws) to appoint electors without holding any election. Not so, though, for U.S. Senators.

May 14, 2009 at 8:26 PM

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