Has the evolving relationship between the federal government and the states changed for the better or worse?

Read Chapter 3 in the textbook, including “You Decide: Voices of Texas: Voting Rights and Redistricting,” and write an essay that addresses the following questions:

• Has the evolving relationship between the federal government and the states changed for the better or worse? Why?
• How has Texas often responded to mandates from the federal government?
• With regards to voting rights, is this an area where the federal government should have more or less influence on the states?
• What is Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act?
• Does preclearance violate the Tenth Amendment and give the federal government too much power, or is it a necessary check on the states to make sure that minorities are not discriminated against?
• Texas argued that it is unconstitutional to impose preclearance unless a state’s racial discrimination was as bad as what existed in 1965. In 2013, then-Attorney General Gregg Abbott argued that voter discrimination is no longer a problem in Texas and consequently is exempt from federal oversight. Do you agree? If yes, why? If not, why not?
• What are two other areas where Texas is at odds with federal laws or mandates?