Direct and Indirect Election of Senators

[Keith Broaders]

Initially the U.S. Senators were chosen by their states legidlsture. In Florida it was the reposonsibility of the state;s representatives and senators to choose the U.S. Senators.

Congressional Represemtatives, on the other hand were chosen in direct democratic elections. 

As a result ot the ratification of the 17th Amendment  senators are now chosen in direect popular elections.

The bicameral legislature that previously prevented the large states from domonating the small states ended and the senaye became a second version of the Houde of Representatives.

The original plan was to have the senate represnt the interests of the state's  legislators and the House of Representatives to represent the interests of the people at large.

The 17th Amendment  essentially turned our Constitutional Republic into a Democracy with unicameral lrgislature with two Houses representing the people and deprived the state's of their right to be represented in the senate.