Homeland Security: The Patriot Act

1103 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay on usa patriot act

The Patriot Act has been under scrutiny and opposition since its creation following 9/11. When 9/11 struck it was clear that Americas intelligence was lacking in some specific way, but it was translated that America needed greater allowance for gathering information. The Patriot Act was signed on October 26, 2001, very close to 9/11. It can be concluded that the Patriot Act was signed with such extreme ability’s applied, because of how close it was signed after 9/11. The Act Greatly expands the liberty’s if law enforcement in their efforts to gather information, which in turn imposes on the privacy of the American people. The FBI has the ability to study any citizen suspected of terrorism, and has access to all their information. Wire Taps and other invasive action are allowed and granted by the Patriot Act. Was the Patriot Act signed to quickly? Are its measures to extreme? When is the line drawn on how much power the government can have? Is the Patriot Act effective enough that it is necessary? Should we as Americans willing to trade freedom for safety? Can the Patriot Act effectively stop or hinder terrorist attacks; has its stopped enough attacks to be validated? Another question is does America want a government that has that much power, how much are we as Americans willing to sacrifice, and how much more liberty’s is the government going take. If the government can pass the patriot act, what other legislation can they pass? In reality it all comes down to the American people, we are democracy but do we have the power in are hands? When finding all these questions one asks do we need an act that is in fact this controversial? Is the Patriot Act a necessary evil? To find this answer we have to answer all the questio... ... middle of paper ... ...some their civil liberty being eroded, the results of a America without the Patriot Act could have been catastrophic. Those who disagree with the Patriot Act can make a difference by pushing for congress to keep the Patriot Act balanced, and by pushing for the more intrusive aspects of the Patriot Act checked from further invasion. Works Cited (O'BEIRNE, KATE. "Congress's Patriotic Act: This is a law that defends America and, yes, preserves civil liberties, dammit." National Review 15 Sept. 2003. War and Terrorism Collection. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.) (Source Citation (MLA 7th Edition) "Groups transcend politics in opposing 'most extreme' Patriot Act provisions." Emergency Preparedness News 5 Apr. 2005: 53. General OneFile. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.) (Homeland Security, Introductions Principles and Practice, Pages 83-85)

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Alien And Sedition Acts

    486 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Patriot Act violates many of the amendments in the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment, for example, gives American citizens freedom of speech, press, and religion. The Patriot Act allows the government to monitor the religious and political papers and institutions of citizens that are not even reasonable suspects for criminal activity. Church,

    Read More

  • Russell Feingold: A Patriot Against the USA Patriot Act

    881 Words  | 2 Pages

    Less than one week after the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S.A. Patriot Act was introduced to Congress. One month later, the act passed in the Senate with a vote of 98-1. A frightened nation had cried for protection against further attacks, but certainly got more than they had asked for. Russell Feingold, the only Senator to vote down the act, referred to it as, “legislation on the fly, unlike anything [he] had ever seen.” In their haste to protect our great nation, Congress suspended, “normal procedural processes, such as interagency review and committee hearings,” and, “many provisions were not checked for their constitutionality, lack of judicial oversight, and potential for abuse.” Ninety-eight senators were willing to overlook key civil liberty issues contained within the 342 page act. The lone dissenting vote, Wisconsin Senator Russell Feingold, felt that our battle against terrorism would be lost “without firing a shot” if we were to “sacrifice the liberties of the American people.” Feingold duly defended American civil liberties at the risk of his career, truly exemplifying political courage as defined by John F. Kennedy.

    Read More

  • Comparison of McCarthyism and the U.S. Patriot Act

    1945 Words  | 4 Pages

    By 1954, the zeal had subsided. These short trials remain one of the most disgraceful times in modern U.S. history (McCarthyism, pbs.org). There are researchers and critics who still find the shadow of McCarthyism looming in the present history of the United States. About two years ago, in a Presidential Address, George Bush, pleaded the Congress to ratify legislation that would prolong the time-bound terms of the notorious anti-terror law, originally planned to end on December 31st, 2005 and later extended. Advocated by Attorney General John Ashcroft and accepted by the Congress in the scary upshot of the 9/11 fanatic assaults, the Patriot Act has been depicted by its critics as the utmost warning to U.S. human rights since the Alien and Sedition Acts or the postponement of habeas corpus during the Civil War.

    Read More

  • American Civil Liberties: Do Americans Have Enough Protections for Civil Liberties, or Not?

    1449 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cole, D., & Dempsey, J. X. (2006). Terrorism and the constitution: sacrificing civil liberties in the name of national security. New York: New Press.

    Read More

  • What are Fusion Centers?

    1054 Words  | 3 Pages

    American Civil Liberties Union. (n.d.). American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from https://www.aclu.org/fusion-centers-force-multiplier-spying-local-communities

    Read More

  • Patriot Act 2: The Domestic Security Enhancement Act

    1629 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Patriot Act 2 would give more power to the government, eliminating and weakening many of the checks and balances that remained on government surveillance, wiretapping, detention and criminal prosecution even after passage of the USA Patriot Act. The Patriot Bill was drafted by the Bush Administration that would expand law enforcement and intelligence gathering authorities, reduce or eliminate judicial oversight over surveillance, authorities secret arrests, create DNA database based on unchecked executive “suspicion,” create new death penalties, and even seek to take American citizenship away from persons who belong to or support disfavored political groups. A few renditions and provisions of the bill is explained in the next few paragraphs. These are only a few of the examples of the powers the new bill will give the government. (http://www.cdt.org/security/usapatriot/030210cole.pdf)

    Read More

  • Is Flag Burning Protected by the First Amendment?

    2205 Words  | 5 Pages

    Do the First and Fourth Amendments Protect?" Current Issues & Enduring Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking and Argument with Readings. Ed. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin's, 1999. 316-324.

    Read More

  • 2001 USA Patriot Act is Unconstitutional and Ineffective

    2102 Words  | 5 Pages

    While this act made legislative changes that increased surveillance and the investigative powers of law enforcement agencies to protect America from further terrorist acts, the passing of the USA Patriot Act has reduced the privacy rights of Americans and also does not provide for a system of checks and balances that safeguard civil liberties. Terrorism is a serious matter that should not be handled lightly, but the act has gone over the top in trying to stop terrorism. The USA Patriot Act, enacted for protecting America from further attacks, not only does little if anything to protect Americans, but rather undermines their civil rights. The Patriot Act targets not only terrorists, but also the American people which it intended to protect.

    Read More

  • The NSA, Privacy and the War or Terrorism

    1550 Words  | 4 Pages

    Edward Snowden is America’s most recent controversial figure. People can’t decide if he is their hero or traitor. Nevertheless, his leaks on the U.S. government surveillance program, PRISM, demand an explanation. Many American citizens have been enraged by the thought of the government tracing their telecommunication systems. According to factbrowser.com 54% of internet users would rather have more online privacy, even at the risk of security (Facts Tagged with Privacy). They say it is an infringement on their privacy rights of the constitution. However, some of them don’t mind; they believe it will help thwart the acts of terrorists. Both sides make a good point, but the inevitable future is one where the government is adapting as technology is changing. In order for us to continue living in the new digital decade, we must accept the government’s ability to surveil us.

    Read More

  • The Espionage Act and The Sedition Act

    2058 Words  | 5 Pages

    "Treason, Sedition and Civil Rights in the U. S. Law." Congressional Digest 14.10 (1935): 227-

    Read More

  • The Patriot Act vs Civil Liberties

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Many opponents have come to see the patriot act as a violation of the fourth amendment to the U. S constitution.” (Belanger, Newton 2). The side effect of the patriot act is that it weakens many rights. This act weakens the fourth amendment which is our privacy protection. The fourth amendment allows citizens to be protected from unreasonable searches without a warrant. The police search suspects mainly because of their race or ethnic group.

    Read More

  • The Patriot Act Protects America

    761 Words  | 2 Pages

    The U.S. Patriot Act was set in place to better serve our country against terrorism.  The U.S. Patriot Act is an Acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Acts (Lithwick).  This act is to punish terrorist actions and improve law enforcement not only in the United States but also around the world. The United States Patriot Act consists of over 1,000 sections that describe the act in great detail.  The sections include, but are not limited to, the power extended to the government by The U.S. Patriot Act to deport and incarcerate non citizens. With the U.S. Patriot Act a person’s phone line can be tapped, records of any and all purchases checked, and even library records searched.  This Act also has sections to help money laundering, expand our country’s border protection, strengthening the extent of criminal laws and provide for people suffering from any type of terrorism acts (Huffman).

    Read More

  • Planned Parenthood of PA v. Casey

    1705 Words  | 4 Pages

    Schultz, David, and John R. Vile. The Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties in America. 710-712. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale Virtual Reference Library, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. .

    Read More

  • Post 9/11 Surveillance

    1329 Words  | 3 Pages

    First after the 9/11 attacks, the government was taking steps to prevent any such attack in the future. In order to do so, the Patriot Act was introduced. It was to be used to weed out terrorists and help the government locate any suspicious activities. However, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, “while most Americans think it was created to catch terrorists, the Patriot Act actually turns regular citizens into suspects.” With the help of the Patriot Act, the government can easily have access to all the information of its citizens, especially Muslims. It can monitor all of their activities and wait for them to do anything

    Read More

  • The Issues With Public Surveillance

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    ACLU. "What's Wrong With Public Video Surveillance?" American Civil Liberties Union. N.p., 25 Feb. 2002. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

    Read More

More about Homeland Security: The Patriot Act

Open Document