Issue #941 Friday, October 10, 2025

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Ratified on April 8, 1913, the 17th Amendment fundamentally altered the structure of American democracy by changing the election process for U.S. Senators. Before its ratification, senators were chosen by state legislatures. This process was intended to ensure that the Senate would be a body representing the states, providing a balance to the popularly elected House of Representatives.

However, by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the process was marred by corruption, deadlocks in state legislatures, and a growing disconnect between Senators and their constituents.

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