What two-word phrase is used describe the expanded surveillance powers
of government is

Patriot Act.

Explanation:

The Patriot act was established by the George W. Bush administration after the infamous 9/11 incident on the World Trade Center. The act was created to increase the National's Security ability Conduct surveillance to prevent further act of terrorism.

For example, this act allowed the national security to Tap into citizens' phone and monitor the search activities that the people do on the internet. Their justification for this is that it give them clues to prevent potential attacks.

a drastic rise in oil prices ended decades of postwar.