Amendment 17

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.



When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.


This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

This amendment discusses Senate election. Two Senators are elected in each state every six. If a vacancy shall occur the state shall deal with re-election procedure.

Possible primary battle in bid to take on McCaskill in '12



By: CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser


Washington (CNN) - The National Republican Senatorial Committee says it isn't taking sides in any battle down the road for the party's Senate nomination in Missouri.


The primary winner there will take on freshman Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, who's up for reelection 2012.


A Republican party source confirms to CNN reports that Sen. John Cornyn, the NRSC chairman, spoke before Thanksgiving with former Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman about a possible bid for the Senate nomination. The source tells CNN that Steelman called Cornyn, rather than the other way around, and that Cornyn suggested to Steelman that if she thought she could mount a good campaign, then she should run.


Also considering a run for the GOP nomination is former Sen. Jim Talent, who lost to McCaskill by three percentage points in 2006.


"From the NRSC's perspective there are several potential candidates, including Jim Talent and Sarah Steelman, who could mount a winning campaign against Claire McCaskill," says NRSC Communications Director Brian Walsh, who adds that McCaskill's "support for the Obama agenda, including the health care bill and stimulus, has left her vulnerable heading into 2012 and we wouldn't be surprised if several well-qualified candidates ultimately step forward to challenge her. But our nominee will be chosen by Republican voters in Missouri."


President Barack Obama narrowly lost the state to Sen. John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, but Republican Rep. Roy Blunt defeated Democratic nominee Robin Carnahan, Missouri's secretary of state, by 13 points earlier this month in the battle for the state's open Senate seat.


Steelman, a favorite with many Tea Party activists, considered a run against Blunt for this year's Senate nomination, but dropped out of the hunt early in this past cycle.

This article discusses the Senate primary election in Missouri.


This video is about a senator who was forced to concede in his senate race do to scandal.