States ratify 17th Amendment, transferring senator selection from state legislatures to voters

The 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on April 8, 1913, after Connecticut became the 36th state to approve it. The amendment transferred the power to elect U.S. senators from state legislatures — which the original Constitution assigned under Article I, Section 3 — to voters through direct popular election. The amendment took effect immediately, requiring all future Senate elections to be held by popular vote.