The Constitution and Elections, Part II: Ideal Voters and Changes by Amendment
This post discusses five constitutional amendments affecting elections.
Understanding the Constitution: The 17th amendment and direct election of Senators
“After World War I ended in 1918 every senator had been directly elected. But instead of following the liberal pattern of diverting wartime spending into domestic programs, Congress reduced the size of the government.”
The Constitution’s Grants To Persons and Entities Outside the U.S. Government
A little known aspect of our Constitution is that it delegates power, not just to the U.S. Government and to its units, but also to persons and entities outside the U.S. Government. In each case, the power to act is derived ultimately from the Constitution. Even when those persons or entities are states or officeholders […]
The Problems With Repealing the Direct Election of Senators/17th Amendment
Some political activists argue for repeal of the 17th amendment. In other words, they want to end popular elections of U.S. Senators and return to the original constitutional system of election by state legislatures. Repeal advocates argue that the pre-17th amendment system better preserved federalism than does direct election. Whatever the theoretical merits of their […]
