Political Reform

Progressives and the Constitution

16th Amendment

• Legalized income tax without using apportionment from census data

• Income taxes had already been advocated by Populists

• Amendment necessary after Supreme Court struck down income tax law

• Progressive- use taxes to help the poor, fund social programs

17th Amendment

• Changed how Senators are elected– Originally elected

by state legislatures– Now directly

elected by the people of the state

• Progressive- limit political corruption & increase people’s involvement in electing their leaders

18th Amendment• Outlawed the manufacture,

sale, and transportation of alcohol in the U.S. (exceptions made for certain medical and religious reasons)

• Led to rise of the mafia as organized crime made millions by smuggling liquor from Canada and Cuba

• Repealed by 21st Amendment

• Progressive- intended to improve lives and families of working class

19th Amendment

• Made it illegal to deny the right to vote on basis of gender

• Longest-fought ratification battle of any Constitutional amendment (except the 27th)

• Despite concerns, a “women’s voting bloc” never emerged

• Progressive- more people involved in government

Other Government Reforms

• Direct primary: allowing voters to choose which candidate would represent each political party in Congressional elections

• Pendleton Civil Service Act: required candidates for some government jobs to pass an exam– Limited patronage

(handing out jobs in return for votes or political favors)

• Direct Democracy (all of these are in the Arizona constitution, by the way)– Initiative: laws proposed

and passed directly by voters

– Referendum: gives voters the authority to approve laws passed by state legislature

– Recall: allows voters to remove elected officials from office