The 17th Amendment

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The 17th Amendment

• By Sarah Monteiro

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The 17th Amendment

• Establishes the direct election of United
  States Senators by popular vote.

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Why was the 17th Amendment added to the
Constitution?
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• Because
• Senators were not getting picked fairly.
• There was a lot of bribery going on between the
  senators.
• Problems with the senator had been going on
  before the Civil War and after the Civil War.
• The Legislatures were having problems with
  picking the senators.
• People started a popular vote to help out.

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What led to the 17 th Amendment?
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• Because
• In the 1850s all of the senator problems began.
• Senators were not getting voted on fairly and
  that was what most people thought was wrong.
• Bribery and unfair voting began.
• Intimidation was starting.
• Plurality started instead of voting.

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When was the 17th Amendment added?
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• Because
• It was ratified on April 8,1913.
• 1826 direct election of senators started.
• Connecticut was the state to confirm the 17th
  amendment.

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Information on Court Cases
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• Because
• There were 9 bribery cases brought to court about
  senators. These cases were taken to court between
  1866 1906.
• A court case on Senator John Stockton of New
  Jersey was taken to court because he had been
  picked with Plurality.

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Interesting Facts
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• Because
• Delaware did not send a senator for 4 years
  because of all the problems with the senate.
• On May 13,1912 things started to get better with
  the picking of senators.

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Glossary (The words that were underlined)

• Senator- a member of the senate.
• Bribery-(money or favor) something given or
  promised to a person to influence conduct
• Legislature- one of the 3 branches of Government
• Intimidation- to make fearful
• Plurality- the greatest number of votes cast
  when not a majority

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Glossary(The words that were underlined)

• Ratified- to approve or accept
• Election- an act or process of electing

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Where did I get my information from?
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• Glossary words- Merriam- Websters Dictionary and
  Thesaurus
• Information- www.senate.gov