How Technological and Societal Changes have Augmented Federal Power? - Essay Sample

Introduction

The U.S. Government agencies have broadened their use of computer networks to allow the federal government to carry out its core business, render crucial services, and disseminate information to other government agencies, and the general public. It has also imposed regulations and other safeguarding measures to ensure that resources and technologies deemed critical to national security are not accessed by outsiders. The federal government has been able to pass a crucial law which safeguards Americans living with disability from being discriminated based on their condition. Although the constitution safeguards the right of individuals a restrict power of government, the aftermath of the Civil war recognized the federal government's control over the states. When the Civil war was over the federal government had to implement its control over states to regulate matters which affected the American citizens these issues included racism, segregation, and controlling state powers over the right of citizens.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The Rise of Federal Power in the United States

The balance of power between the federal government and state has tremendously changed over time. The federal government controls national and international issues whilst state government regulating issues within the U.S. borders (Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir, 2014). For example, Congress made an appeal in the Supreme Court against the federal government regarding the ban of medical marijuana, even though eleven states had legalized its use. However, the Supreme Court maintained that the federal government did have the power to control use all bhang under the business section.

Another instance where federal government power has risen is when the Supreme Court held that federal grants meant to assist in paying for the insurance of patients should be available to residents in federal states that provided insurance only via the federal exchange program Hence the subsidy would be provided by the federal government to citizens in all states. It helped the Affordable Care Act program to survive the challenge posed by the state in 2015 (Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir, 2014). Through Affirmative Action, the powers of the federal government were augmented since the goals of this program is to bring equal opportunities to citizens by removing prejudiced barriers through past injustices. For example, in the case "Fisher v The University of Texas" the court held that a school's affirmative action program of admission must be held to fend off discrimination of black students in favor of whites. It is a battle that the federal government won.

In recent years, civil rights protection of American citizens offered by the national government have broadened dramatically since the mid-twentieth century, when black people often struggled for equal rights was a contentious issue (Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir, 2014). Some of the social changes include; African Americans can now vote for the leaders they want; they can also view presidential seats and win (Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir, 2014). For example, the election of Barack Obama as the nation's first black president was a testament to the major social changes in the lives of black people living in America. Through the First Amendment, the minority groups such as African Americans, Transgender individuals, can be able to express themselves freely and freedom of the press. It has allowed the federal government to have more control over the state through the constitution.

Transgender individuals can now use a public restroom with other gender identification not like before when they were judged based on their physical traits (Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir, 2014). Another society change that increased federal power is through Lawrence v. Texas, where the Supreme Court overruled a Texas law which made homosexual sexual acts illegal. The ruling made the federal government expand and recognize same-sex marriages which were restricted by the state government (Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir, 2014). Another case "Obergefell v. Hodges," the court of law maintained that the protection clause within the Fourteenth Amendment allows same-sex couples to marry in all states a defense the federal government used against the state government.

Technology has changed to allow greater national government control to the citizens of the United States. Although there are benefits from technological advancements such innovations in computer networks and businesses, the federal government exercises its power to ensure that national security is maintained (Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir, 2014). For instance, the government is investing in artificial intelligence (AI) in order to protect the public sphere insecurity and theft. Technology does not only impact how the government operates but changes the role of the government entirely. Historians have different views on how technology is changing the federal government Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir (2014), asserted that diplomatic cables an invention that emerged in the 19th century allows people to transmit information electrically hence shortening the time of the earliest means of transportation. With the completion of this project, there resulted in a radical change in the United States which had more power and freedom that what was expected from the federal government. This invention brought some pressure to the government and the state regulatory measures.

On the other hand, through technological inventions, individuals had to imagine how to create the internet such as ARPANET (Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir, 2014). The Americans facilitate their propaganda or cold war through the internet hence challenging the economy and the military sector. The rate at which information was generated and transmitted online created a threat to the federal government. For instance, by 1950s the Soviet center was struggling to remedy the cybernetics challenges that had already affected the country's economic growth. The internet affected a number of operations such as planning, distribution of resources, transportation control, among others. However, there are been changes, especially to the federal government to have powers in regulating technology to ensure that there is national security. This is done to avoid complications that may upset the hierarchy of power in the political sector and the ultimate national network.

Furthermore, the U.S. government is investing in technological training especially with the military to ensure that there are peace and unity in the public sphere. Despite the fact that there are benefits with the advancements in technology, the federal government is closing the distance between the global teams with the focus of maintaining national security. Empowering the military and responsible citizens on technology will the government to quickly identify and solve problems that might interfere with national well-being. It also facilitates the development of important technological innovations, for instance, the CT scans and MRIs, which are important in visualizing what happens to organic cells and in biological research purposes (Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir, 2014). The immense regulatory and monitoring is responsible for building capacities and transformations necessary in the federal government. At the same time, the regulatory measure from the government eliminates the challenges that pressure its operations and the security of the citizens.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the advancement of technology has enabled government institutions to carry out their core mandates, render essential services and disseminate crucial information to the general public and other state agencies. The federal government has been able to pass crucial law like disapproving discrimination against the people living with a disability. Affordable care act, and Affirmative action which is some of the social and technological changes that have increased the federal power in the United States. federal government power has also risen after the Supreme Court held that federal grants meant to assist in paying for the insurance of patients should be available to residents in federal states that provided insurance only via the federal exchange program. Hence the subsidy would be provided by the federal government to citizens in all states. the U.S. government is advancing its technological training, especially with the military to ensure that there are peace and unity in the public sphere. The federal government is empowering the military wing of the nation, and responsible citizens on the technology. It will enable the government to quickly identify and solve problems that might interfere with national well-being. An example of social changes that have attributed to an increase in federal power includes: African Americans having the right to vote and vie for political seats. For example, the election of Barack Obama as the nation's first black president was a testament to the major social changes in the lives of black people living in America.

References

Ginsberg, B., Lowi, T., & Weir, M. (2014). We thePeople: An Introduction to American Politics. Retrieved from: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NlwvCZorVgBfi7MOtiJPJCjrivZWeleO/view