The Direct Election of Senators

[Keith Broaders]

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Before the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913 each of the 48 states were had two senators chosen by the  state legislatures. Today there are 7,383 state legislators that represent the people in their state and they should be the ones to choose who they want to represent them in  Congress.

Having our senators chosen by our elected representatives is an example of an indirect election which is a principle found in a republican form of government. When senators are chosen directly by the people, it is the method used in a democratic model.

When senators are chosen by their state legislators, they are accountable to the representatives of the people in each of the states., When the ratification of the 17th Amendment the state legislators lost the voice and their ability to prevent the abuse of power by senators who were elected directly by the people.

In Article V of the Constitution there is a provision that prohibits Congress from depriving a state of its equal representation in the senate without their consent. When Congress passed the proposed 17th Amendment the states were asked for permission to surrender their right to choose their own senators.

Thirty six of the forty eight states gave their consent, but 12 states did not. According to the provision in  Article V, no state can be deprived of its equal  representation in the senate without their consent. In other words thirty six state legislatures  can not take away from the other twelves state legislatures of their right to be equally represented in the senate.

The House of Representatives was supposed to be the People's House and the Senate was created to be the State's House. The ratification of the 17th Amendment destroyed the balance of power and the sovereignty of the states.

[Keith Broaders]