“The net effect was that state legislatures had the ability to block any piece of federal legislation if it undermined state interests. The Senate was their tool in Congress by which they could gridlock the federal government”
Well, individual states didn’t have veto power.
I think this point is overstated.
“In 1913, Woodrow Wilson passed the 17th Amendment (under the guise of fighting against corrupt state legislatures), which changed the Senate from a state-appointed position into a directly-elected position.”
It is my understanding that this is impossible. Wilson could not amend the Constitution as POTUS. He needed 34 States to ratify such a change. I don’t know the history of this effort.
Great post Peter47, thanks. I always felt Woodrow Wilson was one of the worst Presidents because of his bringinging about the FED and the income tax, but the change of how Senators were chosen clinches it, he did more damage to the US than any previous POTUS. Johnson and Obama in the modern era were terrible as well, with Biden’s 4 years a worse continuation of Obama’s reign.
This is reading like a GREAT piece!
Thank you!
“The net effect was that state legislatures had the ability to block any piece of federal legislation if it undermined state interests. The Senate was their tool in Congress by which they could gridlock the federal government”
Well, individual states didn’t have veto power.
I think this point is overstated.
“In 1913, Woodrow Wilson passed the 17th Amendment (under the guise of fighting against corrupt state legislatures), which changed the Senate from a state-appointed position into a directly-elected position.”
It is my understanding that this is impossible. Wilson could not amend the Constitution as POTUS. He needed 34 States to ratify such a change. I don’t know the history of this effort.
Great post Peter47, thanks. I always felt Woodrow Wilson was one of the worst Presidents because of his bringinging about the FED and the income tax, but the change of how Senators were chosen clinches it, he did more damage to the US than any previous POTUS. Johnson and Obama in the modern era were terrible as well, with Biden’s 4 years a worse continuation of Obama’s reign.