History and Evolution of The US Federal Authority

This paper discusses the evolution of the US federal authority from when the Constitution was written to present day.

The history of the United States' federal system began with the writing of the Constitution in 1787. The drafters sought to create a government that would provide for a unified national power while still respecting individual states' rights and autonomy. In order to accomplish this, they created three distinct branches - executive, legislative and judicial - each with their own set of powers and duties. These branches share some common goals such as protecting citizens’ rights and promoting justice, but serve different functions in practice.

The Founding Fathers also established checks and balances between these branches to ensure no one branch could become too powerful. For example, Congress has the power to pass laws, but the President has the power to veto them. The Supreme Court can decide if a law is constitutional or not, which effectively gives it the power to nullify any laws passed by Congress.

In 1791, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution and further defined citizens’ rights as well as those of states. These amendments limited federal authority over certain areas that were traditionally left up to state governments, such as religious practices and other personal freedoms.

The Civil War in 1861 marked a major turning point for the US federal government. This conflict expanded national power by granting new rights for African Americans, such as voting and owning property, previously denied by state governments. With this expansion came an increased role in protecting individual rights and regulating commerce between states.

The 20th century saw a further consolidation of power to the federal government, most notably with the New Deal legislation passed by President Franklin D Roosevelt in 1933. This expansive set of laws was designed to strengthen economic security and reduce poverty during the Great Depression. It also gave the federal government unprecedented authority over state governments in areas such as labor laws, agriculture, banking and finance.

Today, the US federal system is still evolving as new issues arise. The Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage and healthcare reform have been two major examples of this evolution in recent years. As technology advances, new questions about how far federal jurisdiction should extend are likely to continue being raised and debated for years to come. Ultimately, the US federal system is designed to ensure a balance of power between the national government and individual states while still protecting citizens’ rights. As it has done in the past, this delicate equilibrium will continue to be revised as new challenges emerge.