During the Constitutional Convention, most states wanted representation based on population, but a few small states wanted equal participation by state. A proposal initiated by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut became what is known as the Great Compromise. It created the Senate, in which each state gets two members, regardless of population. However, growing disparities in the populations of US states established a vocal minority with growing, unintended political power — far more political power in far fewer hands proportionally than they had during the Great Compromise.
Suggestion:
Allocate one seat to each state automatically to preserve federalism, but apportion the rest based on population. This change may be possible through legislation without changing the Constitution.
Start with the total U.S. population, then divide by 100, since that’s the size of the current, more deliberative upper chamber. Next, allocate senators to each state according to their share of the total; 2/100 equals two senators, 3/100 equals three, etc. Update the apportionment every decade according to the official census.
The Path to Give California 12 Senators, and Vermont Just One