[Nateman]

Why did the States vote away their own power in the Senate ? Political bodies historically do everything they can to evade responsibility. Whether handing over to faceless unaccountable bureaucrats the power to create law or the selection of Senators a politician will do everything they can to enjoy their comfy job and that means dodging controversy. Is it any wonder after the Court of Supreme Whim sized the power of final word that Congress has let that slide for over 2 centuries?

[Nateman]

Seized

[Jacquerie]

Actually, the idea of popularly elected senators began in the early 19th century. Progressive demagogues in particular pushed for it in the early 20th.

A Senate of the States - The 17th Amendment Part I of III.

[Political Junkie Too]

Why did the States vote away their own power in the Senate ?

Some reading:

The Seventeenth Amendment and the Death of Federalism by Ralph A. Rossum (2003, Claremont McKenna College).

Beyond the Shell and Husk of History: The History of the Seventeenth Amendment and Its Implications for Current Reform Proposals by Todd J. Zywicki (1997, Mississippi College School of Law)

Senators and special interests : a public choice analysis of the seventeenth amendment by Todd J. Zywicki (1994, George Mason University). (scroll down to see the text).

-PJ

[Reily]

Why was it done? A couple of reasons all demagogued out of proportion.

Reasons:

1. The states were often slow to appoint replacement senators.

2. The claim that state legislators were in the pocket of the railroads. A claim that was probably somewhat true. It was also said then that governors were in the pocket of railroads. Again, probably somewhat true! If that statewide office picked by the voters can be in the railroads pocket how is picking a senator via the same electoral process an improvement?

The late 1800s to 1920s democracy as defined by the Progressive movement was all the rage. Many political intellectuals thought they were smarter than the Founding Fathers. You should read some Wilson's commentary on them and the Constitution. He was convinced it had outlived its usefulness time!