Final answer:
The 17th Amendment changed the selection of Senators from appointment by state legislatures to direct election by the people, removing the influence of political connections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 17th Amendment changed the selection of Senators from one based on appointment or selection by state legislatures to one in which Senators were directly elected by the people. Previously, Senators were chosen by state legislatures, but due to a series of scandalous elections in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the public began to resent Senators who they perceived as being selected through political connections rather than for their qualifications.
The 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allowed for the direct election of Senators by the people, rather than selection by state legislatures. This was a move to increase democratic representation and address corruption concerns with the previous process.
The best explanation of the 17th Amendment is that it provided a significant change in the method of selecting U.S. Senators. Prior to the amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures, which over time led to controversies and the perception of corruption. The amendment, passed in 1913, moved this process from an indirect system of appointment to a direct electoral system, allowing citizens to directly vote for their Senators. This aimed to increase the democratic participation of citizens and reduce the potential influence of political corruption.
Under the popular election system established by the 17th Amendment, each state's Senators serve staggered six-year terms, ensuring continuity in the Senate as only one-third are up for election every two years. Since its passage, the amendment has been instrumental in shaping the modern structure of the Senate, aligning it with the principles of democratic representation.