17th Amendment

 Ratified in 1913

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 qualificationsrequisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, theexecutive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower theexecutive 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.

 

Breakdown...

 

 

Amendment 17: Popular Election of Senators

• Repealed Article 1 section 3 of the Constitution (only  state legislatures could elected U.S. senators).
• Provided for the direct election of U.S. senators by citizens.
• Senators could no longer "buy a seat."
• Established that if a person had the qualifications for voting for a Senator, his right to vote was not only derived from the laws of the particular State in which they are chosen, but had its foundation in the Constitution of the United States.

Progressivism—the early twentieth-century political movement dedicated to pushing government at all levels toward reform.

 

 

This is a humerous image depicting the view that American citizens are not very intelligent and would rather vote for a popular tv show/competition than for a specific political leader. After the 17th Amendment we have a little more say in who goes to the Senate. I believe American citizens have the same intellectual capabilities but are sent media distractions to defer their thoughts away from a higher order of thinking. We are taught (although no one will admit this) by our society that if we are lower class/middle class citizens it is our duty to follow the rule of others in order to survive. Not to think of solutions that could better our economy or vote for Senators that uphold our values.

 

This image depicts the view that individuals that run for Senate may portray a different image of themselves to the public in order to obtain more votes. I do uphold this view in that although there are good leaders in our society, the individuals that usually run for Senate are wealthy and more concerned about their self-interests, than that of the people. Although some may ratify their decision to run for Senate as a chance to improve the economy, their only fooling themselves. If a Senator made minimum wage would he/she really be there?