Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Amendment 17

"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."

The 17th amendment creates the direct democracy of the senate, having the people of each state vote for the state legislature. The vacancies that happen in the senate will be determined by the executive authority of each state. Some people want to repeal this amendment in a way that would give more power to the states rather than the federal government. 


Here is a video of a tea party candidate explaining his reasoning behind repealing the 17th amendment. I don't think he does a very good job at explaining why he wants it repealed, he does say that he doesn't think it will ever happen. 


This comic represents the long terms that senators have in congress. I think the artist is trying to explain that the senators don't progress like the country does, so it is a dangerous game in the senate. 


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