Final answer:
4) The State Legislatures
Until 1920, Federal Senators were elected by state legislatures, a practice established by the original United States Constitution and changed with the Seventeenth Amendment allowing for direct election by the people.
Step-by-step explanation:
Until 1920, Federal Senators were elected by state legislatures. This practice was part of the original design of the United States Constitution, which aimed to create a balance between national and federal interests.
Senators represented the states, and each state legislature had the authority to appoint them. This practice helped ensure that the interests of the states were taken into account at the federal level.
The process of electing Senators through state legislatures remained in place until it was changed by the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, ratified in 1914, and fully effective in 1919 with the election of 1920.
This amendment altered the Constitution to allow for the direct election of Senators by the people, aligning it with the democratic process established for the House of Representatives. This change was driven by concerns over corruption and the desire for more democratic representation in government.