President Clinton signs the Electronic Signatures Act at Congress Hall in Philadelphia. Contracts created online now have the same binding authority as a written contract. He signed the bill electronically.

The IVTA promotes the use of Internet voting.

In the year 2000, the Internet has not eclipsed the influence of newspapers, radio, or television. However, cyberspace has an advantage over the older news sources. The Internet is an interactive medium, allowing citizens to send information as well as receive it — in real time.

In 1996, all major presidential candidates developed web sites to support their campaigns. Thousands of political newsgroups have been created to cover the entire spectrum of political ideology. Interest groups have reached new audiences on the World Wide Web, creating the potential for an even greater influence in Washington. Fringe organizations on the far left and the far right have used the relatively unregulated medium to broaden the support networks.

Websites are being used by candidates and parties to organize and spread the word about everything from speeches to fundraisers to the festival you're currently attending.

During the Monica Lewinsky scandal, web surfers could read entire transcripts of President Clinton's testimony, right down to the dirty details, on their personal computer screens.

Matt Drudge's online The Drudge Report made headlines as the first news source to break the Monica Lewinsky story. Drudge continues to publish for an audience of millions -- the World Wide Web.

The key word for the Internet and politics, however, is potential. The 2000 presidential campaign demonstrated the power of the Internet to raise funds for candidates by collecting contributions via the Web.

Given its interactive capabilities, why not let citizens vote directly online? Two states already experimented with this in the presidential primaries in the 2000 contest. A voter could register online, and later cast his or her vote into cyberspace.

Alan Keyes's Online Agenda • School Prayer • Right to Bear Arms • Traditional Family Integrity • Abolish the Income Tax

The original idea of direct democracy was to let all citizens vote on all issues. With a nation as large as the United States, it became unfeasible to assemble the citizenry for such direct involvement to take place. The Internet could turn that impossibility into a reality. Rather than letting the Senate and House of Representatives to vote on an issue, why not create a national referendum and permit Americans to voice their opinions in an online vote? Supporters and opponents of a bill could post information pertinent to the issue on a web page. Debate could take place informally in chat rooms. Optimists point to the potential of the Internet to create a more democratic America.

Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, actively supported the Internet since the early 80s. He spearheaded congressional bills that placed the Internet in schools, homes, and businesses across the country.

Use of the Internet in this fashion has critics as well. Fears of a malicious hacker breaking into a voting site and shutting it down or tampering with the results have led most states to proceed cautiously. A technological gap still exists between connected Americans and those without the financial means to own a computer or pay for Internet service.

Conservatives question the expertise of the average American to cast important votes on policy matters. Until these questions get resolved, the use of the Internet in the political arena remains mostly potential. But at the dawn of the 21st century, even the naysayers see the revolutionary changes on the horizon introduced by this exciting new medium.

Regardless, the Internet is already a powerful tool for delving into political issues and delving into the history of the United States. After all, it is the medium you are currently using.

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