A not-so-distant mirror: the 17th Amendment and congressional change. (provision for direct election of U.S. senators)

An analysis of the membership of the US Senate right after the implementation of the 17th Amendment to the US Constitution mandating direct senatorial election indicates that the electorate preferred candidates with government experience to those who had wealth and family connections. Direct elections also resulted in a Senate more responsive to public sentiment. Data also show that direct elections tied the Senate closer to the House and the presidency.

The selection of U.S. senators by state legislators occurred for the last time in November 1912. Just a few months later, on May 31, 1913, ...

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