Bill Text: DE SCR30 | 2009-2010 | 145th General Assembly | Draft

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Bill Title: Formally Ratifying The 17th Amendment To The Constitution Of The United States Providing For The Popular Election Of Senators To The United States Senate.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-07-01 - Passed in House by Voice Vote [SCR30 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2009-SCR30-Draft.html

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SPONSOR:	Sen. Sokola & Rep. B. Short

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

145th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 30

FORMALLY RATIFYING THE 17TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES PROVIDING FOR THE POPULAR ELECTION OF SENATORS TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

WHEREAS, on May 13, 1912, the Congress of the United States proposed to amend the Constitution of the United States in order to provide for the popular election of the United States Senate; and

WHEREAS, while the proposed amendment was under consideration by the 96^th General Assembly of this State, it was ratified by a sufficient number of the several States of the United States to become a part of the Constitution of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, following such ratification the General Assembly ceased its consideration of the Amendment; and

WHEREAS, it is the purpose and intent of this 145th General Assembly of the State of Delaware in adopting this concurrent resolution to formally ratify and approve said proposed Amendment, which has since been designated as the 17^th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, as proposed, and as written today, the Amendment reads as follows:

"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."

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE 145th GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein) that the Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed in the Congress of the United States on May 13, 1912, and thereafter approved by three-fourths of the States of the United States on April 8, 1913, and designated as the 17^th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America be, and the same is hereby, ratified by the 145th General Assembly of the State of Delaware and shall be, to all intents and purposes, a part of the Constitution of the United States of America.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this preamble and resolution be forwarded to the Secretary of State at Washington, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, and to the presiding officer of the United States Senate.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate be, and are hereby directed to deliver certified copies of this preamble and resolution to the Secretary of State at Washington, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, and to the presiding officer of the United States Senate.

SYNOPSIS

This concurrent resolution ratifies the 17^th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, requiring popular vote for U. S. Senators.Although the amendment was officially ratified by the necessary number of States earlier last century, this resolution formalizes Delaware's ratification.

Author:Senator Sokola