Constitution > Article I > Section 3
Amendments 11-27 > Amendment 17 - Popular Election of Senators
Senate Vacancies Clause/Senatorial Classes and Vacancies Clause
Article I, Section 3, Clause 2
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
Amendment 17, Paragraph 2
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.
Related Resources
- United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States.
- Amendments XI–XXVII
- Charles Pinckney: "Observations On The Plan of Government Submitted to The Federal Convention, in Philadelphia, on the 28th of May, 1787"
- A Federal Republican: A Review of the Constitution
- James Madison's Notes of the Constitutional Convention
- Thomas Lloyd's Notes of the Pennsylvania Ratification Convention
- Journal Notes of the Virginia Ratification Convention Proceedings
- Charter of Connecticut
- NY Ratification Convention Debates and Proceedings
- Thomas Lloyds Notes of the Pennsylvania Ratification Convention
- NY Ratification Convention Debates and Proceedings
- Newspaper Report of the Massachusetts Ratification Convention,
- James Madison's Notes of the Constitutional Convention
- The Federalist No. 63
- The Federalist No. 67
- Cato V
- Gilbert Livingston's Notes of the New York Ratification Convention Debates
- Fabius II
- The Federalist No. 59
- NY Ratification Convention Debates and Proceedings