what is the 17th amendment in simple terms

The 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1913, changed the way U.S. senators are chosen. Instead of being selected by state legislatures, senators are now elected directly by the people of each state through popular vote. This amendment also sets rules for filling vacant Senate seats when a senator dies or resigns. In simple terms, the 17th Amendment makes sure that ordinary citizens get to vote for their U.S. senators, giving people a more direct role in choosing their representatives in the Senate.