The 17^th Amendment was passed by Congress on May 13, 1912, and ratified April 8, 1913. Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.

• AMENDMENT XVII: 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. Elections to the United States Senate are to be held on November 6, 2012, with 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested in regular elections whose winners will serve six-year terms from January 3, 2013 until January 3, 2019. Although there are no Georgia seats in the race for the United States Senate in 2012, there are a total of 56 seats up for election in the Georgia State Senate race. HR Strategies would like to take this time to remind you to register to vote.  Our elected public officials determine the laws and regulations which protect and shape the way business is done here in our fine state of Georgia, and our Nation. If you haven’t registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration you may do so at:  http://www.presidentialelection.com/register_to_vote/