StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

History 1118 United States History and Culture - Term Paper Example

Cite this document
Summary
The Seventeenth Amendment The 17th amendment is an amendment to the constitution of the United States. This was meant to change a previous article in the constitution, which allowed for the elections of the United States’ Senators only by individual state legislatures…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.2% of users find it useful
History 1118 United States History and Culture
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "History 1118 United States History and Culture"

Download file to see previous pages

Here, the law allows for two senators for each state in the United States. In addition, the minimum term allowed by law to all senates is six years, with each senate having one vote. This part of the US constitution also has a provision that the senators will be elected into office by the specific legislatures of the state in which they seek rulership. Nonetheless, the 17 amendment has the same provisions like those in the article one, section three, except one difference with regard to the method of election for the senators.

Therefore, while the number of senators, number of votes, and term of office is similar in both cases, the 17th amendment considers popular vote or electors as the main method of election of senators. In addition, the 17th amendment included that each senator seeking office must meet certain qualifications, including specific age and residency qualifications (Gailmard 324). Nonetheless, this amendment is responsible for various changes in the United States. Before the 17th amendment, the constitution of the United States had specified that only the legislatures of a senate would elect a senator.

Therefore, the American citizens did not participate in the election of their senators. However, beginning the mid 1850’s this election system of senators by the government began to raise concerns among the American citizens, who felt they were being excluded from this important practice. Meanwhile, in 1866, in order to control this election approach, the US Congress passed a law, which was considered the main influence of the 17th amendment. However, this law did not change the election method of senators, thus was less useful, as most people wanted to be involved in voting in their senators.

In the year 1893, the proposal for constitutional amendment in favour of direct elections of senators was first made. However, for a long time, this was not implemented, despite it being proposed every year. In 1903, this proposal was made in the US Congress, but the senate rejected it. However, in May 1912, the Congress passed direct elections of senators as the 17th amendment, and had it ratified in April 1913. Apart from allowing for direct elections of senators, it also allowed for a way of replacing senators, when the senate seat became vacant before the end of a term (Gailmard 324).

As seen the government of the United States only allowed the legislatures in a state to elect the senator of their state. Various parties, including the founding fathers who wrote the constitution, as well as President James Madison, influenced this decision. In 1787, various delegates from different states were invited to Philadelphia to attend the Constitutional Convention meant to improve various confederation articles. James Madison attended and kept he took notes during the convention. From Madison’s notes, it is possible to understand the main reasons why the founding fathers, who created the US constitution, were opposed to a Congress made up of a single house, thus, supporting the senate.

In addition, one might understand why the founding fathers were of the opinion that state legislatures, and not the majority, elect senators. Nonetheless, deciding that state legislatures appoint senators was in a bid to prevent or avoid the election of unethical or incompetent individuals into the senate. The founding fathers

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“History 1118 United States History and Culture Term Paper”, n.d.)
History 1118 United States History and Culture Term Paper. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/history/1474939-history
(History 1118 United States History and Culture Term Paper)
History 1118 United States History and Culture Term Paper. https://studentshare.org/history/1474939-history.
“History 1118 United States History and Culture Term Paper”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/history/1474939-history.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF History 1118 United States History and Culture

Major Challenges along Silk Route

Explorers, migrants, traders, soldiers, refugees, and pilgrims contributed to Silk Routes' extensive cross-continental exchange through their religion, culture, animals, flowers, vegetables, plants, herbs, fruits, and diseases as well (Ma, 1998, pp.... hellip; The author states that there were numerous commodities traded during these travels....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

The Determinants of United States Immigration

The paper "The Determinants of united states Immigration" describes that rather than simply stating that the current situation is bad or good, the preceding information has attempting to integrate with the reader the fact that immigration serves as the very backbone of the united states system.... hellip; The fact of the matter is that the immigrants within the united states play a vital role in keeping the economy moving.... As the shifting waves of immigrants from different parts of the globe have sought to make the united states their new home, backlashes from various groups have resulted....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

The Crusades Saladin

Saladin's early childhood education focused on religion, ethics, and culture, which involved learning Arabic, poetry, grammar, and formal prayers (Burhan).... The paper concerns Saladin.... Before Saladin came to be, there was accumulated tension among the Christians and Muslims, which led to vicious religious wars referred to as crusades....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

Evolution of lactase gene in homo sapiens

culture dictated gene adaptability and advanced evolution (Hollox 267).... (Name) (Professor) (Course) 11 December 2013 Introduction Lactase persistence is a condition in which the enzyme that digests a form of sugar found in milk (Lactose) persists into adulthood.... Lactose is converted into glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream....
11 Pages (2750 words) Term Paper

Monetary Economics Development

the period from about 1775 to 1832, and the third period falls in the third quarter of the nineteenth century when other countries like Germany and the united states began to catch up with Britain and finally overtook it as the leading industrial power of the world.... There are broadly three periods in the early history of monetary economic thought.... In the absence of effective measures of the latter states of development are estimated by the growth of income....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Zoot suit riots

The Zoot Suit riots are among one of the most important and significant events to happen not only in Los Angeles but also in the united states, because it showed the underlying racism that was prevalent in the nation at the time.... … They happened at a time when the united states was at war, in 1943, and the nation had gained a lot through its war industry.... It was a time when many Mexicans had chosen to immigrate to the united states so that they would be able to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that were available in the country....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

The Different Christian Crusaders: Trust and Poor Coordination Between the Leaders

Although the Crusade was announced by Pope Eugene III, European Kings Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany along with other small armies led the huge army (Tyerman, God's War: A New history of the Crusades 2007).... The second crusade was announced following the success of the first one; however, the consequences were somewhat unexpected (Tyerman, God's War: A New history of the Crusades 2007).... However, when both the armies reached Anatolia they were overpowered by the Seljuk Turks (Tyerman, God's War: A New history of the Crusades 2007)....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

History Topics since the 1500s

(Coclanis, 2005) The emergence of new and improved technology together with human culture were intertwined in the advancement of the sugar industry and this acted as one of the mainstays of the new Atlantic economies.... This assignment "history Topics since the 1500s" discusses the most significant obstacle to state-building in early modern Europe.... Therefore, the history of Atlantic commerce cannot in any way be separated from the history of slavery and the act of transferring both labor and capital across the Atlantic....
4 Pages (1000 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us