Simply put, this Amendment, ratified in 1913, changed the first paragraph of Article 1 Section 3 of the Constitution. The original read: “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof“. It was changed to “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof.“
In 1913, the Constitution was amended so that Senators are directly elected by the people. This came about because it was a popular idea. At the time of ratification, 29 states already directly elected their Senators.
Also, before this Amendment, state legislatures had experienced deadlocks in choosing Senators. One famous deadlock was in 1895 when Delaware’s state legislature remained in stalemate for 217 days, with 144 ballots. This had resulted in two years without Delaware Senators.
Today’s transcript is from National Archives (archives.gov).
AMENDMENT XVII
Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified April 8, 1913.
Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.
“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 qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive 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.”
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