The republican government guarantee is the way the Federal gov’t has been able to insert itself into matters of state and local corruption. It’s why we see Fitzgerald going after Blago.
The Republican Form of Government Clause might be a proper Constitutional basis for going after local corruption, but in fact Congress has not passed any laws relying on that clause. The prosecution of Blago, and similar cases, are based on the mail fraud statute.
I must disagree.
The form described and designed by the Founders was one that gave the States separation from many Federal actions. The 17th Amendment changed the forces and the interest in that matter, allowing government influence to grow.
In the old style, the feds would not get involved, or would have had a reason to do anything. The new senator would have been left to the Legislature.