Section 3 - The Senate
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, (chosen by the Legislature thereof,) (The preceding words in parentheses superseded by 17th Amendment, section 1.) for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; (and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.) (The preceding words in parentheses were superseded by the 17th Amendment, section 2.)
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote. Ratified 4/8/1913.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.
7 comments:
this clause is pretty straight forward and clearly stated. and it doesn't leave much open for interpretation.
one change i would make in regards to this is to repeal the 17th amendment. with that amendment we now have two houses representing the individuals of society and none representing the states (the people as a singular collective body)as was the intention of its purpose,thus no check and balance in Congress.
it is here also that we can understand that the word people was taken out of context of its original meaning. and that, to me, was a very dangerous precedent.
I agree with the Griper.The Senate was to give each state an equal voice and presence in congress, and thus the selection of Senators as originally set forth in the Constitution was proper and sufficient.
The 17th amendment is, in my view unnecessary and unwarranted.
The "peoples" house is The House of Representatives and having sufficient powers to govern the 17th amendment need not have even been considered.
I have to agree wit ya both. Sorry, for not responding sooner, have out-o-town guest over and getting to the blog is like trying to masterbate, to many people around me. Knew they were going to be here so that is why I threw in the repeal of the 17th on the last post.
Thanks guys, I really appreciate your input and look forwrd to more. sharky
You should do a series on the Federalist Papers and attach it to the sections.
BB,
that would not serve the purpose of this series. Sharky is seeking our input of interpretation thus it is up to us to use the papers as needed to give credibility to our positions.
i would also add that it is here that we can settle the argument of whether our representatives are to abide by the will of the people when casting their vote or if they are to abide by their conscience.
and the answer is abide by their conscience. if that wasn't the answer then we'd have no system of check and balance.
Clay -- I plan on doing a series on them, bill of rights and others, pending on response to this and the next series. I know it is a work in progress, so I may have to speed up the process to get it done by elections later this year(the blogo world will have more important things to talk about).
What I really would like is input from officials in/running for. Of coarse this would be spot lighting their opinion and documenting their word. And as you know from the Bill Long story many will flee. So I will stay with those whom I can rely, you guys -- the people. Well a few of ya anyway.
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