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The Problems
//__BOSSES & POLITICAL MACHINES__// These terms are not absolutes. They mean that a political organization has earned to be called a political machine or a political leader called a boss. The terms are arguable. The time that these terms were used was (roughly) 1880s to the 1920s. Often times these “machines” were disputed. The elections were seen as more of a contest than an election. Unfortunately those opinions were only those of the people that opposed them and not the people that were voting them into power. Sometimes they would be involved with the **direct election of senators**, making ones that they wanted win. //__POLITITIANS & BRIBES__// Unfortunately many polititians took bribes from certain groups or got "campaign cash." Polititians from all levels were controlled by party leaders. These party leader said who would go for office. US legislature would decide who the senate would be. In short, the political leaders had too much power over the national government. Even the president had to concern himself of the desires of the paying party. They had to do this in order to achive the next election. //__ELECTION FRAUDS__// These were very common at elections when the people voted in public. This could lead to some **election frauds**. Because of the ballots color differences, anyone could who was voting for who. In addition many of the ballots were too long. Because of the how long they were, this didn't allow the voters to think and decide well. Sometimes people would just vote for the canidates of their favorite party because it was easiest. Normally this happened at primary electitons messing with the result. //__JOB CONTROL__// A lot of govenment jobs were controlled by elected officials. This was known as the spoils system. The Pendleton Act of 1883 gave the president power to put more federal jobs into **civil service**. Unfortunately many of the jobs were still under government regulation.

The Solutions
__//REFERENDUM//__ This happens when the legislature asks the voters if they approve or disapprove a legislative or constitutional measure (This is an option in 36 states.). Voters can sponsor their own **referendum**. They do this by getting a number of voters’ signatures on a petition. If they get the signatures, a referendum will be held on the question. __VOTING__ Voting is changed to **secret ballot** so that election fraud couldn't take place. The ballot was changed so that less people were to be elected, this made it so that the ballots were shorter and the people didn't have to think as much. //__JOBS__// The federal government allowed more jobs to be held by the civil service. This made it so that less jobs were controlled by the government. The people must take tests. //__WE THE PEOPLE__// The primary way of solving was, to let the people have more control over the government.

The Primary Sources
__//SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT//__ 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.



The Citations
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