seventeenth amendment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Advanced/Proficient). Common in academic, historical, and political contexts in the US; lower frequency in general international English.Formal, academic, legal, historical. Used primarily in written texts (legal documents, textbooks, scholarly articles) and formal discussion.
Quick answer
What does “seventeenth amendment” mean?
The amendment to the United States Constitution that established the direct election of United States senators by popular vote, replacing the previous system where senators were chosen by state legislatures.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The amendment to the United States Constitution that established the direct election of United States senators by popular vote, replacing the previous system where senators were chosen by state legislatures.
A pivotal reform in American democracy that strengthened the principle of direct representation, reducing political corruption associated with state legislative appointments (the "Senate of the Gilded Age") and making senators more directly accountable to the electorate. It is often cited in discussions about electoral reform, federalism, and the balance of power between state and federal governments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in an American context. In British English, it would only appear in discussions of American politics or comparative government. There is no direct British equivalent, as the UK has no written constitution with similarly numbered amendments.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes democratic reform, anti-corruption, and the Progressive Era. In international/British contexts, it is a technical term for a specific American political mechanism.
Frequency
High frequency in relevant American contexts; very low to zero frequency in British general usage.
Grammar
How to Use “seventeenth amendment” in a Sentence
The Seventeenth Amendment (to the U.S. Constitution) + verb (was ratified/established/directs)Verb (ratify/pass/repeal) + the Seventeenth AmendmentVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seventeenth amendment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The reform movement sought to amend the constitution to provide for direct elections.
American English
- Progressives successfully campaigned to amend the Constitution to allow for the direct election of senators.
adverb
British English
- The Senate was, post-Seventeenth Amendment, more responsive.
American English
- Senators, post-Seventeenth Amendment, had to campaign statewide.
adjective
British English
- The post-Seventeenth-Amendment Senate was fundamentally different.
American English
- The Seventeenth-Amendment era changed campaign finance dynamics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in political science, history, and law to analyze the shift in federalism and electoral accountability.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation except in political discussion.
Technical
Precise term in constitutional law and American civics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seventeenth amendment”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “seventeenth amendment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seventeenth amendment”
- Writing '17th amendment' in lowercase when referring specifically to the U.S. Constitution.
- Using 'the Seventeenth Amendment' without the article 'the'.
- Confusing it with other amendments (e.g., the 19th - women's suffrage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was ratified on April 8, 1913.
It was proposed to combat corruption and political deadlock in state legislatures, and to make the Senate more directly democratic and accountable to the people.
Yes, like any constitutional amendment, it could be repealed by another amendment, though this is politically very difficult and has not been seriously attempted.
It authorizes state legislatures to empower the state's governor to make temporary appointments to fill Senate vacancies until a special election can be held.
The amendment to the United States Constitution that established the direct election of United States senators by popular vote, replacing the previous system where senators were chosen by state legislatures.
Seventeenth amendment is usually formal, academic, legal, historical. used primarily in written texts (legal documents, textbooks, scholarly articles) and formal discussion. in register.
Seventeenth amendment: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsev(ə)nˈtiːnθ əˈmendmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛvənˈtinθ əˈmɛndmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 17 letters in 'Popular Vote Senate' – which is what the 17th Amendment established.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CORRECTIVE TOOL (amending a flaw), A BRIDGE (connecting people directly to the Senate).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary effect of the Seventeenth Amendment?