Although government decisions and operations at all levels in the United States continue to be hampered by the lack of effective leadership as well as ethical standards, the Watergate Scandal has had some positive impacts on government. For instance, the scandal became a huge factor in passing the Freedom of Information Act in 1986, as well as laws requiring new financial disclosures by key government officials. Passed in 1974, the Freedom of Information Act has been hailed as one of our greatest democratic reforms because it allows ordinary citizens to hold the government accountable by requesting and scrutinizing public documents and records (Rosen, 2002). The Ethics in Government Act of 1978, amended by the Ethics in Government Act of 1989, subjected senior executives and other high-ranking officials to financial disclosure as part of post-Watergate ethics reforms. Its rules were designed to reduce corruption and prevent the improper use of knowledge gained while in the government's employ (Ethics in Government Act).

In...

The scandal has had far more lasting effects on the field of journalism, public confidence in government officials and institutions and the laws that are required for effective oversight of government. Although there were many incidents during the time of Watergate that dictated the need for change, Watergate is still remembered as the catalyst that finally brought it about.
Bibliography

Ethics in Government Act. http://www.answers.com/topic/ethics-in-government-act

Genovese, M.A. (1999). The Watergate crisis. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Kenslea, M. How Watergate changed what people do. Columbia Scholastic Press Association. http://cspa.columbia.edu/docs/spr/2007-03/03-Alicia-Shepherd-Watergate/index.html

Rosen, R. (2002, January 7). The day Ashcroft censored freedom of information. San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0108-04.htm