[crusher2013]

Did they have Senator’s for life prior to the 17th like they do now?

[Publius]

Yes. Read The Great Triumvirate: Webster, Clay and Calhoun by Merrill Peterson. It tells how three senators-for-life ran the country from Congress from the War of 1812 through the early 1850s while presidents came and went.

[Noamie]

“Did they have Senator’s for life prior to the 17th like they do now?”
———————
What a great question. I had to look it up.

17th amendment ratified in 1913.

Out of the 25 longest serving Senators, only 2 are pre-1913.

So, it is a good point that pre-17, we did not appear to be stuck with Royalty “for life” Senators.

Of course, there could be larger issues at play: most of the longest serving senators are from the narcissistic, baby boomer generation. But that’s just spit balling.