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Constitutional fight launched over election of senators
WND.com ^ | October 18, 2014 | Bob Unruh

Posted on 10/20/2014 7:14:24 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

t’s a movement that’s been building in recent years: efforts by states to reclaim their constitutional authority by declaring Washington’s health care laws, gun control or other restrictions simply don’t apply within their boundaries.

After all, the Constitution stipulates that, except for a couple of dozen specific issues such as national defense, the powers in the U.S. rest with the states.

Now a new lawsuit contends states can regain their authority by returning to the practice of having state legislatures elect U.S. senators, as the Constitution originally required.

The case is being brought by author, columnist, commentator and activist Devvy Kidd.

A former congressional candidate, she has been a guest on thousands of talk shows and authored “Why A Bankrupt America” and “Blind Loyalty.”

In her complaint, filed in court in Texas, she contends the 17th Amendment was not legally adopted, because several key states cited in support of it never even voted.

She noted the drafters of the Constitution were concerned about maintaining state sovereignty, which is why state legislatures were given the power to select U.S. senators.

It was like that for more than 100 years until the 17th Amendment was adopted in 1913, establishing direct election of senators by popular vote.

In a recent commentary, she said the 17 Amendment “was critical in destroying the balance of power in the U.S. Congress, wrestling away the sovereign power of the states and any representation in Washington, D.C.”

John Jay, co-author of The Federalist Papers, Kidd pointed out, is quote saying unlike the Senate, where “the two-thirds rule was in force for treaties and impeachment, the lower house had nothing to do with treaties; it represented the people whereas the Senate represented the states – for the Federalists always a significant distinction.”

(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 10thamendment; 17thamendment; devvykidd; gregabbott; lawsuit; legislatures; nullification; philanderknox; ratification; repeal; senate; senators; states
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To: houeto
The Founders did not allow a popular vote for Senators.

Indeed, the Founders were not in favor of much democracy or voter input at all. That doesn't mean I totally agree with them. They were wrong about plenty of things.

Your state legislators are not average voters.

I'm not a huge fan of the "average voter", despite my support for the 17th Amendment. That said, most state legislators have a ways to go to even rise to the level of average voters.

21 posted on 10/20/2014 12:40:25 PM PDT by gdani (Ebola has exposed the U.S. as fearful, easy-to-manipulate weaklings)
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To: caligatrux
But something has to give, because the people are not being represented in DC anymore at all, and the Federal government is out of control.

The necks of politicians and bureaucrats sounds like a good place.

22 posted on 10/20/2014 2:07:03 PM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: Repeal The 17th

Ping for You.


23 posted on 10/20/2014 2:07:46 PM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: OneWingedShark

The only way to undo it is with article V.


24 posted on 10/20/2014 2:19:27 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
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To: Repeal The 17th
Hey, you know I'm for an Article V.
:)
25 posted on 10/20/2014 2:50:40 PM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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