United States Senators have always been elected by popular vote. Each state votes for their own Senator. Each state has two Senators.
Chat with our AI personalities
No, they have been elected by the people only since 1913 due to Amendment 17, Sec. 1.
Under the Constitution, state legislatures chose the US Senators for their state. Until the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913, state legislatures were the bodies who determined how senators were chosen. Some states and territories had already enacted popular election prior to the amendment's passage.
Representatives and Senators make up the Legislative branch of government in the United States. Representatives are elected by a vote of the people.Until 1913, Senators were appointed by the legislatures of the various States to represent the State. The 17th Amendment changed this to require that Senators be elected by a vote of the people. In the case of the death or disability of a Senator, the laws of the various states may call for a special election to be held to fill the vacancy, or may allow the Governor of the State to select a replacement temporary Senator to serve until the next election.
Prior to the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1913 a Senator was elected by their home state's house of representatives. The 17th Amendment changed this process making Senators directly electable by the people.
The 17th amendment deals with the Senators from the states. It provides a method to allow governors and states to appoint a successor to someone that has died or resigned from their position. It also requires them to meet any additional requirements that the state has set for their legislatures.