The Patriot Act: Keeping America Safe

On September 11, 2001, the United States was shaken when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City fell and thousands were killed. The very real dangers of terrorism were made perfectly clear that day. The government had to find out why this atrocity had happened, and, more importantly, they had to stop it from happening again. But how could the U.S. stop an attack they never saw coming? Deciding the best route of action was to catch the terrorists before they could do any more harm, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, or USA PATRIOT Act, was passed.

The Act was approved by both the House of Representatives and Senate with very little opposition and was signed into law by President George W. Bush. This new act significantly cut restrictions on judicial power and gave legal authorities more control. Since its passage, the Patriot Act has been under severe scrutiny and has been considered one the most controversial acts passed under the American government. Most adversaries have critiqued the act by claiming that it is unconstitutional and infringes upon citizens’ rights. Accusations of the Patriot Act’s violations against the First and Four Amendments have been ongoing, despite several amendments to it. Opponents have asserted that the Act opens a door for potential governmental abuses of power, while supporters have maintained that it is not only constitutional but necessary, given the context of terror in today’s society. While there are some who claim that the USA PATRIOT Act breaches American citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed rights and poses potential abuses of power, the act is clearly a carefully constru...

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