Proposal to Restore State Selection of U.S. Senators Deserves Conservatives’ Support

The Founding Fathers never intended for Americans to vote for their own senators. Rather, they considered it essential that state governments have representation in the federal government through the U.S. Senate. That is why, from 1789 to 1913, not a single American cast a ballot for U.S. Senate. For more than 100 years, senators were chosen by state legislatures. This all changed with the 17th Amendment, which changed senatorial elections to direct popular vote, following state-level reforms in the years prior.

One new proposal would change it back. In June, Representative Keith Self of Texas proposed legislation to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment, ending the system of direct popular election that has governed Senate races since 1913 and returning the selection of U.S. senators to state legislatures. Conservatives should support this effort to restore the Constitution’s original checks-and-balances design.

About the Author

Marc Wheat

Marc Wheat is the general counsel for Advancing American Freedom.

MB

About the Author

Mitchell G. Bahnsen

Mitchell G. Bahnsen is a summer intern at Advancing American Freedom, and writes often about religious, political, and economic topics.

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The Founding Fathers never intended for Americans to vote for their own senators. Rather, they considered it essential that state governments have representation in the federal government through the U.S. Senate. That is why, from 1789 to 1913, not a single American cast a ballot for U.S. Senate. For more than 100 years, senators were chosen by state legislatures. This all changed with the 17th Amendment, which changed senatorial elections to direct popular vote, following state-level reforms in the years prior.

One new proposal would change it back. In June, Representative Keith Self of Texas proposed legislation to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment, ending the system of direct popular election that has governed Senate races since 1913 and returning the selection of U.S. senators to state legislatures. Conservatives should support this effort to restore the Constitution’s original checks-and-balances design.