Its title is a tenletter backronym usa patriot that stands for uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism act of 2001. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in politics, or the future of our nation. Whether they will awaken from that stupor in time to cure the disease brought on by the patriot act and its spawn remains to be seen. The patriot act is an act of congress that was signed into law by president george w. That having been said, patriot act is a well written, gripping novel about the nearfuture shattering of a tyrannical regime ruling the united states.
The usa patriot act of 2001 is a 342page, sprawling piece of legislation that contains more than 150 sections and amends more than 15 federal laws. As a part of that effort, congress passed the uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism act in october of 2001, arming law enforcement with new tools to detect and prevent terrorism. Having experienced such a horrific event forced our government to look at things more closely which brought about the usa patriot act. Myths and realities about the patriot act on june 8, 2005, the house judiciary committee held a hearing on reauthorization of the usa patriot act.
The usa patriot act confers wide ranging powers on us law enforcement authorities. Usa patriot act of 2001 legal definition of usa patriot. Bush signed the usa patriot act, an antiterrorism law drawn up in response to the 911 attacks. Patriot act, focusing on the violations of civil liberties and constitutional rights they felt it authorized. It passed in the senate by a vote of 981 and in the house of representatives by 35766. The final bill is now commonly known as the patriot act. Us congress, 1022001 one day later, senate majority leader and future anthrax target tom daschle dsd says he doubts the senate will take up this bill in the one week timetable the administration wants. The united states congress established the usa patriot act patriot act to. Usa patriot act of 2001 the usa patriot act, commonly known as the patriot act, is a statute enacted by the united states government that president george w. A reference handbook is an indepth examination of the difficult wartime task of balancing civil liberties against national security. The usa patriot act is an act of congress that was signed into law by president george w. Bush is joined by house and senate representatives as he signs h. Usa patriot is an acronym for uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate.
Following the terrorist attacks against the united states on september 11, 2001, the usa patriot act of 2001 uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism act was enacted in october 2001 and renewed in march 2006. Publicity photo the antiterrorism patriot act is introduced in congress. While the results have been important, in passing the patriot act, congress. To view this law in its entirety, click on the usa patriot act link below. The committee called a single witness, deputy attorney general james b. Many provisions originally set to expire have since been made permanent under. The act is technically known as the usa patriot act, which stands for uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism act of 2001. Bush in response to the terrorist attacks that took place on september 11, 2001, in new york and washington, d.
Congress enacted the patriot act by overwhelming, bipartisan margins, arming law enforcement with new tools to detect and prevent terrorism. Senators will consider whether to renew key provisions of the patriot act. Moreover, the constitutionality of this act has been disputed, amidst allegations of abuse against ethnic communities. Usa patriot act paper nikki peeler ajs552 january 28, 20 shon kuta usa patriot act abstract september 11, 2001 america was changed forever. The stated purpose of the act is to enable law enforcement officials to track down and punish those responsible for the attacks. The usa patriot act, commonly known as the patriot act, is a statute enacted by the united states government that president george w. This has been criticized by a number of civil rights, political and religious leaders. The usa patriot act passed in the wake of the september 11 terrorist attacks. Bush signed the final bill, the usa patriot act, into law on october 26, 2001. Patriot act after september 11, congress passed a security legislation in order to make the country safer. The usa patriot act american civil liberties union. Strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to interrupt and obstruct terrorism usa patriot act act of 2001. Did the patriot act change us attitudes on surveillance.
Enhancing domestic security against terrorism establishes in the u. Excerpts from usa patriot act excerpts from the usa patriot act, 2001 congress passed the usa patriot act in october 2011, and president george w. The usa patriot act is an antiterrorism law enacted by the u. The usa patriot act was passed nearly unanimously by the senate 981, and 35766 in the house, with the support of members from across the political spectrum. This 342page usa patriot act was passed on october 26, 2001 with little debate by members of congress, most of whom did not even read the bill. Often referred to simply as the patriot act, it was signed by bush on october 26, 2001. To deter and punish terrorist acts in the united states and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes. Usa patriot act title iii international money laundering abatement and antiterrorist financing act of 2001 sec. The usa patriot act is a law passed shortly after the sept. Hasty passage in congress in a meeting on 19 sep 2001, attorney general ashcroft presented his proposed list of new. Fn25 to be sure, the model act also prohibits theft, fn26 property damage, fn27 and.
Money laundering prevention and terrorist financing directives vs. Security, liberty, and the usa patriot act bill of rights institute. Bush in october 2001, that significantly expanded the search and surveillance powers of. On may 26, 2011, president barack obama signed the patriot sunsets. Usa patriot act wikisource, the free online library. The patriot act, to give it its common name, was passed shortly after the 911 world trade center attacks, but was not, as most people think, directly related to that. Terrorism act, commonly referred to as the usa patriot act. Comey used misleading and inaccurate statements in defense of the patriot act provisions that are set to expire december 2005. The purpose of the usa patriot act is to deter and punish terrorist acts in the united. The antiterrorism patriot act is introduced in congress on october 2, 2001 see october 2, 2001, but it is not well received by all.
The usa patriot act is an act of the united states congress that was signed into law by u. The excerpts provided here show some of the laws more controversial. Key statutes and regulations session ii antimoney laundering aml and antiterrorist financing atf bank secrecy act bsa usa patriot act of 2001, part 2 u. Usa patriot act title iii international money laundering. May 26, 2011 amends the usa patriot improvement and reauthorization act of 2005 to extend until june 1, 2015, provisions concerning roving electronic surveillance orders, requests for the production of business records and other tangible things. The uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism act, or usa patriot act, was introduced less than a week after september 11, 2001, and was signed into law on october 26, 2001. The united stated felt the effects of terrorism and realized just how vulnerable we are as a nation. Signed into law on october 26, 2001, the act was enacted to eliminate anachronistic laws that obstructed surveillance and intelligencegathering activities by government agencies. Bush the new president of the united states, and the fiasco made people question the need for the electoral college. Usa patriot act, passed the house on 24 oct, passed the senate on 25 oct, and was signed by the president on 26 oct 2001. The united states government is in a constant battle trying to protect its people from terrorist attacks. Senators push for release of foreign intelligence surveillance court. It flows from a consultation draft circulated by the department of justice, to which congress made substantial modifications and additions. The usa patriot act, as it is officially known, is an acronym for uniting and.
The usa patriot act commonly known as the patriot act is an act of the united states congress that was signed into law by u. Bush signs the usa patriot act in the east room of the white house on oct. The contrived acronym stands for uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism act of 2001 public law. The passage of the usa patriot act of 2001 and the. Uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism usa patriot act act of 2001 title i. Within weeks of the september 11 terrorist attacks, overwhelming majorities in both houses of congress passed the usa patriot act. Officially entitled the domestic security enhancement act of 2003 dsea, the legislation has been dubbed patriot act u by opponents, since it appears to be a followup punch to the usa patriot act of 2001, passed in the wake of 911. Introduced as the antiterrorism bill on september 19, 2001, it was signed into law on october 26, 2001 as the uniting and strengthening america by providing. Bush signed the usa patriot act, previously passed by the first session of the 107th united states congress, into law on october 26, 2001. Enhancing domestic security against terrorism establishes in the treasury the counterterrorism fund. Uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate.
The official title of the usa patriot act is uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism usa patriot act of 2001. In 2001, the utah legislature passed a domestic terrorism of commercial. The administration then initiated a flurry of executive orders, regulations, and policies and practices that also threatened our rights. The laws full name is the uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism act of 2001, hence the acronym usa. Russell feingold will ultimately be the only senator to vote against the patriot act. Congress in october 2001, at the request of thenpresident george w. Uniting and strengthening america act or usa act of 2001 title i. Usa patriot act, also called patriot act, in full uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism act of 2001, u. Hr 3162 usa patriot act of 2001 voting record vote smart. The passage of the usa patriot act of 2001 and the creation of the department of homeland security reflect the determination of the united states government to 1 search for weapons of mass destruction in south asia 2 increase the globalization of the economy 3 bring about an end to the cold war 4 prevent future terrorist attacks. Part iv explains how the bills exploit the usa patriot acts antiterrorism. Usa patriot act of 2001 financial definition of usa. With its tenletter abbreviation usa patriot expanded, the full title is uniting and strengthening america by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism act of 2001. Bush signing the usa patriot act in the east room of the white house, washington, d.