An amendment is simply a change to the Constitution. In 1913, the 17th Amendment gave people the right to vote for their senators instead of the state legislature, this is called direct election, where the people choose who is in office.
What is the 17th Amendment in simple terms?
Seventeenth Amendment, amendment (1913) to the Constitution of the United States that provided for the direct election of U.S. senators by the voters of the states. … 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.
What is the 17th Amendment in kid terms?
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on April 8, 1913. It said that United States Senators would now be directly elected by popular vote. … It took the power to appoint Senators from the state legislatures and gave that power directly to the voters in each state.
What does the amendment mean in kid words?
change or addition to a law is called an amendment. The word usually refers to a change to the constitution of a government.
What is the 17th Amendment in simple terms quizlet?
17th Amendment. Passed in 1913, this amendment to the Constitution calls for the direct election of senators by the voters instead of their election by state legislatures.
What was accomplished by 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. … Each state legislature would elect two senators to 6-year terms.
What was the reason for the 17th amendment?
Proponents of the Amendment argued that removing from state legislatures the power to choose U.S. Senators would make state democracy work better, allowing voters to focus on state issues when choosing state officials.
What do the amendments mean?
1a : the process of altering or amending a law or document (such as a constitution) by parliamentary or constitutional procedure rights that were granted by amendment of the Constitution. b : an alteration proposed or effected by this process a constitutional amendment. 2 : the act of amending something : correction.
How did the 17th amendment affect society?
The Seventeenth Amendment altered the process for electing United States senators and changed the way vacancies would be filled. … With direct election, each vote represented equally, and the Democrats retained control of the Senate.
What do the amendments say?
| Amendment | Rights and Protections |
|---|---|
| First | Freedom of speech Freedom of the press Freedom of religion Freedom of assembly Right to petition the government |
| Second | Right to bear arms |
| Third | Protection against housing soldiers in civilian homes |
What does the 12th amendment mean for dummies?
The Twelfth Amendment stipulates that each elector must cast distinct votes for president and vice president, instead of two votes for president. … The Twelfth Amendment requires a person to receive a majority of the electoral votes for vice president for that person to be elected vice president by the Electoral College.
What is the purpose of the 17th amendment quizlet?
The purpose for the Seventeenth Amendment was to allow the the direct election of U.S senators by the citizens.
What was one reason why the seventeenth amendment passed quizlet?
What was one reason why the Seventeenth Amendment passed? The amendment eliminated all political corruption. The amendment gave senators more power in office.
Why was the 17th amendment important in the Progressive Era?
The Progressive Era (1900-1920) was a period of political, economic, and social reform in the United States. … The 17th Amendment helped eliminate corruption and reduce the influence of political machines by allowing Americans to directly elect U.S. senators.