Why Do We Directly Elect US Senators?

 Until the 17th Amendment passed in 1913, Senators were elected by state legislature.  After the 17th Amendment was adopted, Senators were elected directly by the voters in each state.  Why did it change?

Historically, the 17th Amendment was, in large part, a reaction to Senator William A. Clark, who bought his Senate election by bribing the entire Montana State Legislature in 1899.  Clark was a Montana Copper King.  In purchasing power, some people think he was the richest American ever.  Clark is on record as seeing the US Senate as an exclusive club he wanted to buy his way into.

With modern 24/7 news coverage and national communication, I think it's unlikely that anyone would be able to buy a state legislature today.

The benefit of having US Senators selected by state legislators was that it gave the states direct input into how the federal government was run.  At the moment, state governments have no influence on the federal government.  In fact, the federal government coerces the states by paying them, or withholding from them, federal money.

Some folks would like to repeal the 17th Amendment, and return the selection of Senators to the state legislatures.  What do you think?  Please leave me a comment.

A Scoudrel and Direct Election of Senators

 Prior to 1913, US Senators were elected by state legislators, not state voters.  This procedure gave state governments a lot of direct input into federal government decisions.  Many political theorists believe restoring the power to elect US Senators to state legislatures is a necessary step to restoring the balance of power between the states and the federal government.  So why did it change?

We probaby owe the direct election of Senators to the efforts of one man, William A. Clark.  Mr. Clark was a Montana Copper Baron who wanted to be a Senator.  In 1899, Mr. Clark bought the entire Montana State legislature.  For him, it was relatively cheap.  The scandal caused the US Senate not to seat him until another election was held a year later.  The Montana State Legislature stayed bought.  Senator William A. Clark served one term, 1901 to 1909.  The scandal was a big reason for the 17th Amendment, which changed the election of Senators to be a direct election from the voters of a state in 1913.  Sometimes, one scoundrel can change history.