[Publius]

It's a little trickier than that.

In December 1829, in his first State of the Union letter to Congress, Andrew Jackson noted that we had morphed into a broad-based democracy, and he asked Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution to reflect that. He asked for:

• An amendment abolishing the Electoral College, replacing it with direct popular vote regardless of state;
• The direct election of senators rather than their being chosen by the state legislatures.

His second request was finally granted in 1913.

[ableLight]

"His second request was finally granted in 1913."

Bingo. That was a Hamiltonian concept. Hamilton also believed that the Prez should appoint all state governors. In any case, the change to direct voting for Senators turned the Congress effectively into a unicarmel legislature.

[ableLight]

Andrew Jackson was an anti-federalist. As for my last post, it might have sounded confusing. I meant that Hamilton supported the appointment of Senators by the legislature of their state. Madison agreed and it was originally in the Constitution until an amendment changed Senate appts. to direct vote. In that case, there's no reason to have two Houses.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I thought the 17th Amendment was adopted in 1916.