Welsh+period+1+Amendment+17

By: Caroline, Liza and Phillip 
 * [[image:Congress.jpg width="149" height="150" align="left" caption="Senate" link="http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/daybyday/images/congress_seal.jpg"]] Amendment 17[[image:17th_amendment.jpg width="152" height="215" align="right" caption="17th Amendment" link="http://www.usmews.com/usnews/documents/docimages/doc_058_small.jpg"]]

The 17th Amedment states that Senators are elected by people from each state. **[|Untied States Senate] [|17th Amendment] [|Associated Content 1913] [|Info Please] [|U.S. Senate]


 * __Essential Question:__ How did the issues which prompted the creation of your amendment compare with the issues that are applied today? **

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Since the new amendment stated that Senators would be elected by the people instead of legislatures, people reacted happily because they finally got a say in their Senator through voting. On the other hand the legislatures were not happy because they lost power over choosing who the Senate was. =====

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There are three qualifications needed for becoming a Senator. First you have to be at least 30 years old, next you have to be a U.S. citizen for atleast 9 years, and lastly you have to have residency in the state you are representing at the time of the election. =====

Current Events:
Illinois Crisis with Senators Author: Jeff Zeleny Date of Article: December 10, 2008 [|New York Times] By: Liza

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The new soon to be President, Barack Obama will not be serving as a senator of Illinois because of his new presidental term. The governer Mr. Blagojevich, of Illinois who was supposed to choose the new senator was selling the seat. Now Mr. Rod Blagovich has to resign because that is illegal. Also Mr. Obama was urging Mr.Blagojevich to resign also. I think that it is wrong to sell the seat because the new senator should smart and should know how to do the job the he is assinged to. It is also wrong because this situation disruppted Obama's tranbsation to the White House.=====

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**Caroline Kennedy wants Clinton's Senate seat, senator says**  **By: Caroline Author: Reporters of CNN Date of Article: December 16, 2008**  [|CNN Politics] **This article is about how Hilary Clinton is leaving her position as New York State Senator to become secretary of state in Obama's cabinet. Governor David Patterson of New York must appoint someone to replace her. Caroline Kennedy has taken an interest in this position and is traveling around the state meeting with people to learn more about the people of New York. Caroline's supporters believe her experience as a lawyer, author, and volunteer prepare her for this position. On the other hand, those apposed think she is unprepared and lacks experience. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is also being considered for the position. Both Kennedy and Cuomo have families with a history of serving politically. Cuomo's father was governor and Kennedy's father was President (John F. Kennedy) and her Uncle Robert held the seat she is now going for. I think it will be exciting to see who will win the spot as New York State Senator as Hilary moves onto the spot of being secretary of state in Obama's cabinet.**     ** By: Phillip /Reporters of NEWS OBSERVERS.COM  ** =====

Published: Sat, Jan. 03, 2009
 [|*http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/columns/story/1353194.html**] **The article, __Let the Voter's Fill Senate Vacancies__ in the News & Observer in Jan 3, 2009,** is about how U.S. senate seats are filled when a vacancy arises. The Constitution beginning words, "We the People" is about members of the House of Representatives being chosen "by the people", but not for Senators. In 1913, the 17th Amendment said that senator have to be elected "by the people" also. The 17th Amendment also authorizes the legislature to give power to the governor "to make temporary appointments" until the people fill the vacancies by election. But when vacancies occur, the last-minute proviso takes the appointment power from the legislature and LETS the governor, not to the people select the replacement. Currently, in Illinois, the governor madethe appointment to fill the Barack Obama vacancy and Joseph Biden's seat went to a longtime trusted aide. This is not what the 17th Amendment is all about but some of it **is.** When vacancies occur in the Senate, as when vacancies occur in the House, governors should issue prompt "writs of election." Special elections may be costly, but you can't put a price tag on Government by the Citizens/People.