The Usa Patriot Act, a Controversial Public Policy, Julius Taka
The USA Patriot Act of 2001 is a controversial public policy, which greatly undermines the civil liberties and constitutional freedom of the American people. This essay will moved from an overview of the USA Patriot Act to a review of the critical literature regarding the importance of the Act to the safety of Americans and shows how the Act violates the civil rights and liberties of citizens and noncitizens alike. After presenting sufficient evidence that the Patriot Act violates many of the basic principles that have been articulated in the U.S. Constitution, particularly within the Bill of Rights, I will, propose recommendations that if implemented scrupulously could help to restore American confidence in government's determination to continue functioning as the protector of civil liberties and rights. In the wake of the worst terrorist attacks in U.S. history on September 11, 2001, just six weeks later with little Congressional resistance or analysis; the U.S. Congress passed into law the USA Patriot Act. The Patriot Act titled “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism” granted an unprecedented and vast power to federal investigative services, which greatly undermines the civil liberties and constitutional freedom of the American people. The main objective of the Patriot Act is "to deter and punish terrorist acts in the U.S. and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes," (Act, 2001, p. 1). Despite this purpose, the Act represents both good and bad points with respect to fighting terrorism and negative consequences on the civil liberties of U.S. citizens. For the most part, I believe the USA Patriot Act does little to combat terrorism and represents a threat to the liberties of the American people.
There is no denying that the hastily passed Patriot Act does have provisions and measures that help the U.S. Government expand its surveillance of
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2. FBI oversight hearing prologue to expected report slamming agency. (2003). Available at www.aclu.org/news/NewsPrint.cfm?ID=13197&c=206.
3. Michael C.W., & Van Bergen, J. (2002). The USA PATRIOT Act: Part I. Available at http://truthout.com/docs_02/11.1512.jvb.cm.usapa.1.p.htm
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5. Schabner, D. (2003b). Conservative backlash. Available at http://abcnewsgo.com/sections/us/2020/conservatives_ patriot030312.html
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7. Talanian, N. (2002). A guide to provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and federal executive orders that threaten civil liberties. Available online from the Bill of Rights Defense Committee at www.bordc.org.
8. USA PATRIOT Act. (2001, Oct 24). HR 3162 RDS, 107th Congress (1st Session). Viewed on Aug3,2005:http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162,html
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10. Van Bergen, J. (2002). Repeal the Patriot Act. Available at www.truthout.org/docs_02/04.02A.jvb.Patriot.p.htm.
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