Renewing the USA Patriot Act

An act was created in the dark days following the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11 , 2001 . It was created to allow the agencies of law enforcement and intelligence to have more authority in to prevent any future attacks by terrorists on the United States . Additionally , it made available monitoring tools within the United States to aggressively address the Bush administration 's domestic war on terrorism . The draft title of the act was Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of

2001 . However , today it is better known as the USA Patriot Act

The Patriot Act was responsible for drastic changes in over 15 important government and constitutional statues . All which lead to the increased ability of the government and law enforcement to secretly monitor , conduct surveillance , and investigate anyone at anytime Previous to September 11 , 2001 there were several attempts by the Republican Party to allow for the electronic surveillance of citizens within the United States however these provisions were highly criticized as being anti-constitutional and therefore anti-American . It was this single act of terrorism which promoted Congress to tear apart the rights granted to every citizen in the United States Constitution and allow the rights of privacy to be completely subordinated . When asked why congressional officials always cite the 9 /11 terrorists attacks . Even the former White House John Podesta challenged their decisions stating that the devastating events of 9 /11 emotionally pressured the members of Congress to agree to allow new legal implements to help fight the terrorists . He continues But we should not forget what gave rise to the original opposition- many aspects of the bill increase the opportunity for law enforcement and the intelligence community to return to an era where they monitored and sometimes harassed individuals who were merely exercising their First Amendment rights

After the establishment of the specific content of the Patriot Act congress was given only a single week to pass the act . John Ashcroft not only had a time limit but also required there would be absolutely no changes to the act . Several congressman headed by the the Vermont 's Patrick Leahy did convince the Department of Justice to make some changes and gradually members of Congress worked together and improvements were made . The process was not fast enough for John Ashcroft and he pressured Congress and the public by repeatedly warning that additional terrorists attacks were upon the United States and only Congress had the power to stop them by passing the Patriot Act . At that point all the revisions to the act were taken away and was passed . The Act was passed 357-66 in the House of Representatives . President Bush signed the Patriot Act into law on 26 October , 2001

What is most baffling about the Patriot Act is very few people can actually explain what the Patriot Act is and what is says . John Ashcroft on several occasions tried to explain exactly what the details...