In the places where I've voted, the State cabinet officers and various specialized boards on the State or local level are separately elected, rather than appointed by the executive or legislature. Presumably such officers are more responsive than their Federal counterparts, though I suppose it could be hard to measure.

On the Federal level, in every 12 years we get 13 opportunities to vote (two Senators twice each, one Representative six times, the President three times). Does anyone really believe that the universe of policy can be compressed into that?