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The USA Patriot Act of 2001 The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (known as the USA Patriot Act of 2001) was signed by George Bush on October 26, 2001. This Act was aimed to increase law enforcement agencies liability to search phone and e-mail communications, various financial and medical records, to ease the restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the country, etc. The USA Patriot Act of 2001 expanded the definition of terrorism and enhanced the discretion of immigration and law enforcement authorities in their activities pertaining to detention and deportation of the immigrants that were suspected of terrorism-related activities (Patriot Act Details). Although the government claimed that the Patriot Act was a so-called forced measure to prevent terrorist attacks, the act became a subject of heated debates as many citizens considered that the USA Patriot Act of 2001 infringes on civil liberties, discriminates against foreigners, and is unconstitutional.
There were a number of constitutional challenges to this act. Under the act, the U. S. government was allowed to search and seize the U. S. papers and effects with no probable cause to assist terror investigation.
At the same time, according to the IV Amendment, The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. (Patriot Act vs. Constitution) Under the Patriot Act, the U. S. government could jail U.
S. citizens indefinitely without a trial, thus violating Amendment VI (Patriot Act vs. Constitution). The government was allowed to monitor political and religious institutions without suspecting criminal activity, thus violating Amendment I. On July 30, 2003 the ACLU has files the first constitutional challenge to this Act, claiming that section 215 violated the U. S.
Constitution (the First and the Fourth Amendments of the Bill of Rights). Soon the ACLU filed another constitutional challenge and, finally, federal appeals court ruled that the Patriot Act was unconstitutional (Ruling in ACLU Cases, Federal Judge Says Patriot Act Gag Provision is Undemocratic). Works Cited Constitutional Challenge to USA Patriot Act. 1 September 2009 < web >. Patriot Act Details. 1 September 2009 < web >. Patriot Act vs. Constitution. 1 September 2009 < web >.
Ruling in ACLU Cases, Federal Judge Says Patriot Act Gag Provision is Undemocratic. 1 September 2009 < web >.
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Research essay sample on The Usa Patriot Act Of 2001
