Amendment Seventeen: A Blessing? Or a Curse?
Reviewed By: Susan Keefe
Susan Keefe reviews and promotes poetry, fiction and non-fiction, and is also author of the Toby's Tails series of children's books.

The author Michael James Geanoulis Sr.’s, primary mission in writing this book was to improve understanding about why it was thought there was a need for Amendment Seventeen, and the repercussions of this amendment on the economy and society of America. However, he also ponders what the thoughts of the founding fathers would be if they returned now, and discovered that although it was their intention for America to be a republic, instead it is now a democracy.

In the Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, Article 1, Section 3. Stated that “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote. … The Senate shall have sole Power to try all Impeachments.”

However Article 17 was amended in 1913, when it was decided to give the people, instead of the state legislature the right to vote for their Senator, in other words, the Senator is chosen by the people.

The author openly admits at the beginning of the book that he hopes for a repel, however he realises that, “Only a low level repair is even remotely likely.” And so, he has laid before you his readers, an incredible amount research carried out through the years, accompanied by studies, documents, letters, graphs, and photographs, so as to enable you to form your own opinion on the subject.

From an early age Michael James Geanoulis Sr.’ has had a keen interest in economics and social issues, and for many years he served on agencies involved with these matters. He holds a degree in electronics technology from DeVry Technical Institute, a business degree from Southern New Hampshire University and is otherwise a self-appointed, self-taught Jack of all Liberal Arts, but master of none. He published his biography ‘The Big Gorge’ in 2018, and lives in historic New Castle, New Hampshire with his wife, Norma, two cats, and three horses. 

In Summary: This is a fascinating and informative book which will appeal to those interested in the political, social, and economic history of America. The question is, what do you think after reading it? Was Amendment 17 a blessing, or a curse? Susan Keefe TheColumbiaReview.com

Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1649901259?pf_rd_r=RF6B9C6F9HW52PCZDNKZ&pf_rd_p=6fc81c8c-2a38-41c6-a68a-f78c79e7253f&pd_rd_r=4f4c1083-1bdf-4d9a-8939-4b0e51fff0cc&pd_rd_w=2NFPp&pd_rd_wg=zgCjT&ref_=pd_gw_unk