Fiveable
Fiveable

17th Amendment

Definition

The 17th Amendment refers to an amendment to the United States Constitution that was ratified in 1913. It established the direct election of United States Senators by popular vote, instead of being appointed by state legislatures.

Related terms

Direct Election: This term refers to a method of choosing government officials where citizens directly vote for their preferred candidate, rather than having someone else make the decision for them.

State Legislatures: State legislatures are bodies of government that make laws and decisions at the state level. They consist of representatives elected by citizens within each state.

Ratification: Ratification is the official approval or acceptance of an amendment or treaty, usually done by a vote or formal process.

"17th Amendment" appears in:

Subjects (1)

collegeable - rocket pep

Are you a college student?

  • Study guides for the entire semester

  • 200k practice questions

  • Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab



© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.