how could the trusts purchase a senat seat?

what bias did the foounding fathers demostarte in their procedure for electing senators?

To address your first question, it is important to note that the phrase "the trusts" refers to large and powerful corporations or business entities that existed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as the Standard Oil Trust or the J.P. Morgan banking trust. The concept of purchasing a Senate seat suggests corrupt practices or undue influence over the political system. While such instances of corruption did occur during that time, it is crucial to understand that purchasing a Senate seat was not a legal or legitimate means.

Rather, the process of electing senators involves the following steps:

1. Nomination: Historically, in the United States, prior to the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913, senators were not directly elected by the public. Instead, they were chosen by state legislatures.

2. State Legislature Selection: State legislatures would typically nominate eligible candidates for the Senate seat. These candidates would be chosen based on various factors, including their political alignment, reputation, or personal connections.

3. Legislative Voting: After the nomination process, state legislators would vote to select their preferred candidate. The exact voting procedure varied across states, but it generally involved a majority or plurality vote.

4. Appointment: The candidate who received the most votes or the necessary majority/plurality would be appointed as the state's senator. This process was not subject to direct influence or purchase by the trusts or any other external entities.

Now, turning to your second question about the biases demonstrated by the Founding Fathers regarding the election of senators, it is worth mentioning that the original Constitution did not prescribe the direct election of senators by the general public. Instead, the Founding Fathers designed a system where state legislatures had a significant role in the selection process.

This system showcased a couple of biases:

1. Elite Representation: The Founding Fathers held the belief that senators should represent the interests of their respective states rather than directly representing the people. This reflected their concern about creating a balanced system and preventing the tyranny of the majority.

2. Checks and Balances: The indirect election of senators through state legislatures served as a check and balance mechanism against possible popular opinions and hasty decisions. This demonstrated a bias towards ensuring political stability and avoiding excessive influence from public sentiment.

It is important to note that these biases were characteristic of the time and reflect the specific circumstances and mindset of the Founding Fathers during the creation of the Constitution. The adoption of the 17th Amendment in 1913, which established the direct election of senators by the public, aimed to address some of the perceived shortcomings of the original system.

The Framers did not envision the direct election of senators by us as it is today. The Constitution had to be amended in order for that to happen. Before the early twentieth century, we elected the state legislators who in turn elected the senators. I am not quite getting what the first question means.