What change did the Seventeenth Amendment implement in the United States government?

What change did the Seventeenth Amendment implement in the United States government?

• A. Direct primaries
• B. Direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote
• C. Women's suffrage
• D. Prohibition

Answer: (B)

The change was to have voters directly elect U.S. Senators in each state. Previously, state legislatures chose Senators, which often led to deadlocks, corruption, and influence from political machines. The Seventeenth Amendment shifted power to the people, making Senators directly accountable to voters and reducing the leverage of state legislatures in federal representation. This reform echoed Progressive Era goals of increasing democracy and curb manipulative politics. It isn’t about creating direct primaries, women's suffrage, or Prohibition, which come from other reforms.

The change was to have voters directly elect U.S. Senators in each state. Previously, state legislatures chose Senators, which often led to deadlocks, corruption, and influence from political machines. The Seventeenth Amendment shifted power to the people, making Senators directly accountable to voters and reducing the leverage of state legislatures in federal representation. This reform echoed Progressive Era goals of increasing democracy and curb manipulative politics. It isn’t about creating direct primaries, women's suffrage, or Prohibition, which come from other reforms.