Eminent domain has long been a controversial power possessed by both the federal and state governments. This power gives government agencies the right to expropriate private property or land that they consider degraded and put it to better use for the greater public good. For eminent domain to be exercised, the seizure of properties must meet the condition that they are of public utility or public necessity. As long as this condition is met, the federal government cannot be prevented from acquiring private property. For this reason, the power of eminent domain has come under scrutiny as it is unfair and unconstitutional. In addition, the victims of this law protest against the fact that they have not been sufficiently compensated for the property confiscated from them. The law of eminent domain continues to be a topic of debate as it has continually been proven that this law has negative consequences not only on the residents directly affected by the ramifications of the law, but also on the communities that make up these residences. Having the federal government condemn blighted properties and then transferring them to private developers or corporations with the obvious goal of increasing tax revenue is considered unfair and unconstitutional. The Constitution designates a list of specific enumerated powers to Congress. These powers are found in Article I of the Constitution, which contains some important elements. These powers range from things like declaring war, raising armies, and collecting taxes. It also includes powers of secondary importance such as regulating the value of foreign coins and establishing postal routes. (Baude, p1746) However, the power to seize private property is not a thing...... middle of paper... ...this phenomenon is mainly felt within families to low-income people who find themselves powerless because they are in the crosshairs of large corporations seeking to seize their property using eminent domain. Additionally, the unconstitutional aspect of this collection method has also created friction between affected citizens and the federal government. In addition to the social effects this eminent domain has had, the negative consequences it has caused on fragile economies are all too clear. By pushing people back to the poorest neighborhoods, the government is condemning the working classes to a life of poverty. There is no doubt that the power of eminent domain has brought public disdain for government while widening the divide between the lower and upper classes and further increasing the chances of corruption between business and government...