Who chose U.S. senators originally?
The original Constitution gave that choice to the state legislatures—the lawmaking bodies of the states. The table compares the original arrangement with the one established by the Seventeenth Amendment.[1]
| Period | Who chose |
|---|---|
| Originally | State legislatures |
| After the Seventeenth Amendment | Voters, directly |
What did a 1912 platform propose?
A Library of Congress teaching post points to the 1912 New York State Progressive Party platform, which proposed direct election of senators. It also called for women’s suffrage and popular referendums, placing the Senate proposal alongside other ideas for change.[1]
What did the Seventeenth Amendment change?
The Seventeenth Amendment established direct election of U.S. senators by voters.[1]