Originally the US Senators and Congress were appointees. They were not voted into office but were appointed by the individual State legislatures. US Senators/Congress were less powerful than the State legislatures as they were subservient to the State, and more like messengers to take the consolidated view of the State as a voice to the Federal Govt. The US Senate/Congress did not make decisions on their own, everything came from the State. I think it was the 17th amendment that destroyed this original form of government. It’s also interesting that through the Jeffersonian period of history (1800 - 1860) the States were sovereign in their affairs. The Federal Govt did not have the right to tax earnings/income. The Federal Govt was subservient to the States. Only the States could tax for projects required for local growth/society. The federal govt got its money from federal tariffs on trade. Up to the Civil War the Southern States paid for over 80% of the federal governments budget through tariffs. No wonder they seceded. Lincoln believed the States were not sovereign, but were more akin to subservient counties all belonging to a centralized, one order rule of the Federal Govt. Naturally taxation policies grossly changed post war. The Federal Government established a role of power over the States. And the rest is history. The founders were quite smart in the manner things were originally designed and structured.

Originally the US Senators and Congress were appointees. They were not voted into office but were appointed by the individual State legislatures. US Senators/Congress were less powerful than the State legislatures as they were subservient to the State, and more like messengers to take the consolidated view of the State as a voice to the Federal Govt. The US Senate/Congress did not make decisions on their own, everything came from the State. I think it was the 17th amendment that destroyed this original form of government. It’s also interesting that through the Jeffersonian period of history (1800 - 1860) the States were sovereign in their affairs. The Federal Govt did not have the right to tax earnings/income. The Federal Govt was subservient to the States. Only the States could tax for projects required for local growth/society. The federal govt got its money from federal tariffs on trade. Up to the Civil War the Southern States paid for over 80% of the federal governments budget. No wonder they seceded. Lincoln believed the States were not sovereign, but were more akin to subservient counties all belonging to a centralized, one order rule of the Federal Govt. Naturally taxation policies grossly changed post war. The Federal Government established a role of power over the States. And the rest is history. The founders were quite smart in the manner things were originally designed and structured.