Not according to George Washington.
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>>Kalamata wrote: "The fourth branch was the state legislatures, until the 17th Amendment."
>>DoodleDawg wrote: "You're just making this stuff up as you go along, aren't you?"
Why would I foolishly make things up when the truth is so easy to find? Why would I want to be like you?
This was the original Article I, Section 8:
"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote." [Law, "Constitution of the United States and Amendments." 1787, Article I Section 3]
The Senators were bound by the will of the state legislators. If a Senator strayed from the will of the legislators, they could be forced to step down and be replaced in the Senate by another appointee of the legislators.
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>>DoodleDawg wrote: "An unorthodox interpretation of Washington's farewell address."
His words are crystal clear.
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>>DoodleDawg wrote: "When he says, "The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositories, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern, some of them in our country and under our own eyes" how do you know he wasn't referring to the three branches of government identified by the Constitution and was instead creating your fourth branch?"
Washington, like every other person in attendance at the Constitutional Convention, knew full-well that the Senate was merely an extension of the State legislatures -- their federal representatives -- which provided another "reciprocal check" against consolidation of powers.
That concept may be difficult to comprehend by central planners.
Mr. Kalamata
Maybe they just don't have your imagination.