The remarkable story that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been arrested for exploring how to trade his selection of a candidate to fill Barack Obama’s Senate seat for favors or money simply underscores the remarkable undemocratic nature of so many state laws giving governors this remarkable power.

No U.S. House Member has ever served without being elected. Even though U.S. Senators are more powerful than House Members and are no longer appointed by state legislators when serving a complete term, far too many states have have this odd anachronim of governor selections– leaving us with two of our largest states (NY and IL) soon to have Senators only accountable to the governors in NY and IL who appointed them.

My colleague David Moon had a good oped in The Hill on this issue last year.

We also did one of our Innovative Analysis series on the issue of Senate vacancy procedures last year.

Other posts by Rob Richie

• Founding FairVote backer and Cincinnati legend Harris Weston dies - July 4th, 2009
• Sarah Palin's resignation to reduce women governors to six - July 3rd, 2009
• Delaware house votes 2 to 1 for National Popular Vote - 29th chamber in 18th state - June 24th, 2009
• Obama's political team: Expediency over principle in "working" Electoral College rather than reforming it - June 21st, 2009
• Special interests upset with instant runoff voting in San Francisco - and broader lessons - June 21st, 2009
• FairVote chair Krist Novoselic makes key point about rights of association in candidacy - June 17th, 2009
• Brennan Center's new report on universal registration joins FairVote in highlighting Canadian model - June 16th, 2009
• Instant runoff voting in Australia: Guest blogger Ben Raue - June 16th, 2009
• Washington, D.C. City council has chance to make D.C. a "beacon of democracy" - June 13th, 2009
• Slamdunk win in Minnesota Supreme Court highlights big week for instant runoff voting - June 12th, 2009