Why the 17th Amendment is important?
Moreover, what was the purpose of the 17th Amendment?
Passed by Congress May 13, 1912, and ratified April 8, 1913, the 17th amendment modified Article I, section 3, of the Constitution by allowing voters to cast direct votes for U.S. Senators. Prior to its passage, Senators were chosen by state legislatures.
In this regard, what is the 17th Amendment in simple terms?
What the 17th Amendment Means. Essentially, the 17th Amendment gives voters the power to directly elect their senators. It also states that the U.S. Senate includes two senators from each state, and that each senator has one vote in the Senate. Senators are elected for six-year terms.
In the same way that many legislatures have eagerly handed over redistricting powers to nonpartisan commissions, they sought to outsource the selection of senators. The 17th Amendment was embraced by legislators and the public as a way to both reduce corruption and take a divisive issue off legislators' agendas.