united-states us-constitution congress
Why Was The 17th Amendment Necessary?
<p>Specifically, why did it need to be a Constitutional Amendment instead of a regular law?</p>

<p>The Constitution, under Article 1, Section 4, Clause 1, states that:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Wouldn’t this allow Congress to have required the direct election of Senators without having to Ratify an Amendment?</p>

<p>No because clause 1 of section 3 originally said:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, <strong>chosen by the Legislature thereof</strong>, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The legislature <em>could</em> have required a vote (of the legislature) and that could have been regulated. However, if the legislature decided that a committee could appoint senators that couldn’t have been, for example.</p>
