What does the 17th Amendment mean for dummies?

Asked by: Kaley Schmitt  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.3/5 (48 votes)

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 does the 17th Amendment do in simple terms?

The Seventeenth Amendment restates the first paragraph of Article I, section 3 of the Constitution and provides for the election of senators by replacing the phrase “chosen by the Legislature thereof” with “elected by the people thereof.” In addition, it allows the governor or executive authority of each state, if ...

Why was the 17th Amendment created for kids?

The Seventeenth Amendment was a response to people becoming frustrated with the corruption and inconsistency of Senate elections. A vote by the people would help prevent Senate elections from being driven by parties, political machines, and special interest groups.

What does the 18th amendment mean for dummies?

By its terms, the Eighteenth Amendment prohibited “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquours” but not the consumption, private possession, or production for one's own consumption. ... It was repealed in 1933 by ratification of the Twenty-First Amendment.

What does the 19th amendment mean for dummies?

What Is The 19 Amendment? The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, and reads: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

The 17th Amendment Explained: The Constitution for Dummies Series

33 related questions found

What does the 19th amendment mean for kids?

The Nineteenth Amendment guaranteed women the right to vote throughout the United States.

Why do we need the 17th amendment?

Amendments to the Constitution providing for direct elections passed the House in each session between 1893 and 1912. ... The arguments for the Seventeenth Amendment sounded in the case for direct democracy, the problem of hung state legislatures, and in freeing the Senate from the influence of corrupt state legislatures.

What was the purpose of the most recent amendment?

Amendment XXVII prevents members of Congress from granting themselves pay raises during the current session. Rather, any raises that are adopted must take effect during the next session of Congress.

How did the 17th amendment effect a change?

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 impact did the passage of the 17th amendment have on American citizens?

What impact did the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment have on American citizens? It gave citizens the right to elect their members of the US Senate. Which reform measure could people use if they wanted to change a law about taxes? progressive reform measures.

How were U.S. senators chosen before the Seventeenth Amendment?

From 1789 to 1913, when the Seventeenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, senators were elected by state legislatures. Beginning with the 1914 general election, all U.S. senators have been chosen by direct popular election.

Who was president when the 17th Amendment passed?

Constitutional Amendments - President Wilson House.

How did the 17th Amendment bring about a change that more closely matched the original goals of the framers?

How did the 17th Amendment effect a change that more closely matched the original goals of the Framers? Senators are now elected by, and held accountable to, the citizens of their State. districts can be drawn favoring one political party. You just studied 25 terms!

What was the purpose of the 17th Amendment quizlet?

The 17th amendment allowed voters of each state to directly elect their senators.

Can the military take over your home during a crisis without your permission?

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

What is Fifth amendment right?

noun. an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, providing chiefly that no person be required to testify against himself or herself in a criminal case and that no person be subjected to a second trial for an offense for which he or she has been duly tried previously.

How many amendments are there in 2021?

The US Constitution has 27 amendments that protect the rights of Americans.

Why is the 17th amendment considered a piece of legislation that falls under state reforms instead of federal reforms?

Why is the 17th Amendment considered a piece of legislation that falls under state reforms instead of federal reforms? ... The Progressives fought for political reforms. One example of political reforms passed by the progressives was the 17th Amendment.

How old do senators have to be?

The Constitution prescribes that the Senate be composed of two senators from each State (therefore, the Senate currently has 100 Members) and that a senator must be at least thirty years of age, have been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and, when elected, be a resident of the State from which he or she ...

What is the 21st Amendment called?

Unratified Amendments:

The Twenty-first Amendment (Amendment XXI) to the United States Constitution repealed the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which had mandated nationwide prohibition on alcohol.

What is the 23rd Amendment say?

The Amendment allows American citizens residing in the District of Columbia to vote for presidential electors, who in turn vote in the Electoral College for President and Vice President. In layperson's terms, the Amendment means that residents of the District are able to vote for President and Vice President.

What does the 22nd Amendment mean in kid words?

The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on February 27, 1951. It limited the president to two terms, or eight years in office.

What effect might each man's term length have had on his decision?

What effect might each man's term length have had on his decision? Term length makes Rep. Jones feel pressured to cast a popular vote. Why does the Constitution provide procedures by which the Senate can judge the conduct of its members?

What is the necessary and proper elastic clause?

The Necessary and Proper clause of the U.S. Constitution provides Congress the power to fulfill its legal powers. Also known as the "elastic clause," it was written into the Constitution in 1787.