When the progressives sought to expand the democracy, they aimed to create a direct primary system where the people can vote for the candidates who will run for a political office, and by helping pass the seventeenth amendment they were able to give the people the power to directly vote for their chosen senators. Not only that, they were also given the power to sign a petition for their desired action on political issues and to remove elected officials from their post should they be found unfit for that office.