Patriot Act: Loop Holes

Decent Essays
The Patriot Act has many loop holes and is open for interpretation for the government to use to its liking. The act states that anyone can be accused of terrorism by: Guilt by association, association as grounds for exclusion or deportation, the ban on supporting lawful activities of groups labeled terrorist, the use of secret evidence, and the empowerment of the Secretary of State to designate groups as terrorist organizations, without judicial or congressional review. The government has the power to decide who is a terrorist under their own terms and use the Patriot Act in their

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The Nsc-68

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Many Americans feel as though the Patriot Act interferes with our 1st and 4th amendments; which are the right to free speech and expression, as well as protecting the citizens of unwarranted search and seizures. The authority given to the government to violate individual privacy crosses the boundaries set in the Constitution. The U.S. Constitution (specifically the Bill of Rights) guarantees every American certain Individual rights. Several critics have claimed that the United States of America no longer protects these rights. From the government’s warrantless wiretapping, obtaining personal info from NSL’s or National Security Letters, emails, and phone records or unconstitutional surveillance of the citizens of the USA, free thinking, speech, and typical American lifestyle cannot…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Patriot Act Dbq

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Following the attacks that occurred on 9/11, the United States government established the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act was put into place to ensure the safety of the citizens of the United States by enhancing the security of the country. The act revised the nation’s surveillance laws, expanding the government’s authority to look into the records of citizens. This law also reduced the judicial oversight, public accountability and the ability to challenge government searches in court. These alterations and additions to the surveillance of the United States was said to ensure the safety of the people from ever having to experience any terrorist attack like the one that happened on 9/11.…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    9/11 Cons

    • 1401 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Throughout the twenty-first century, domestic terrorism has grown into an important issue in the United States. After the infamous terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, the federal government of the United States has placed a much larger emphasis on homeland security and preventing terrorism. On October 2, 2001, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT) was introduced in an attempt to improve homeland security. The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 should not have passed because it violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, intrudes upon the First Amendment of the Constitution, but passed because of the widespread fear of terrorism across…

    • 1401 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The “ Justification in Punishment” known as the intolerable acts created an exasperated state of being for the colonists. The Intolerable Acts consisted of five different laws. The first one was the Vice Admiralty Courts, this allowed the ruler of England to pick the location of the trials, and make sure it is judged fairly. Secondly, the Massachusetts Bay Regulating Act banned all town meetings and allowed England to govern the colony. The Boston Port Act was in result of the Boston Tea Party, where 342 chests of tea were dumped into the port.…

    • 840 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Patriot Act was passed shortly after the events that took place on 2001, September 11th. The act essentially gives the NSA organizzation the ability to spy on the american people. From listening in on phone calls, to accessing the last few texts you sent, they have access…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Patriot Act Dbq Essay

    • 431 Words
    • 2 Pages

    An act where the government can provide higher security for our country. An act that further protects Americans. The Patriot act strengthens and improves America by providing the appropriate tools to intercept terrorism in America. Providing America with the maximum security and doing everything to protect us from events such as 9/11 from happening again, is the governments goal with placing the Patriot Act.…

    • 431 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    After the biggest terrorist attack in US history, a bill was passed which was a result of what happens when a government panicked. After 9/11, the US government was afraid an attack would happen again. So in a panic, the USA PATRIOT Act was passed in the Senate on October 25 2001, just 45 days after the attack with a vote of 98:1. The USA PATRIOT Act stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act. The purpose behind its name was that it deemed anyone who violated the PATRIOT Act unpatriotic or a traitor to the United States.…

    • 1623 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What type of information does the patriot act allow the National Security Agency (NSA) collect all kinds,one of them is records of phone calls like who made them or received them or even how long they lasted they got all this with a secret court order instructing all phone companies to turn over all information they have. They also have information from your emails from big companies like Google,Facebook,Yahoo and others that were given to FBI and even simple local police who don 't even have security clearance to handle information like that. The NSA also has massive amounts of internet traffic like where you been on the…

    • 1025 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Do you as an American citizen ever feel like you are trapped in George Orwell’s 1984 society? Do you ever feel like the government is watching your every move, molding you into the “perfect” citizens? If so, you have the Patriot Act to thank. The United States Patriot Act is an Act set by Congress, signed by former President George W. Bush, following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as well as the 2001 anthrax attacks. The Patriot Act is actually an acronym, standing for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.”…

    • 2111 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Being A Patriot Act Essay

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages

    3. The U.S.A. Patriot Act is an antiterrorism policy set forth immediately following the attacks of 9/11, in which various federal agencies are given increased power in determining the reach of domestic surveillance, interagency data sharing, law enforcement, immigration, individual privacy, civil liberties, and overall authority. The consequences of such an extensive act include endangerment of privacy, discouragement of free speech, potential abuses of civil liberties, an imbalanced and unchecked government authority, and increases in discrimination and profiling against Muslims, Arabs, and people who appear related to those two previous labels. Guantanamo Bay is an off shore military prison that holds people whom the U.S. consider to be suspected terrorists. Technically prisoners of the Bay are supposed to be guaranteed “humane treatment, free exercise of religion and medical treatment”(Civil Liberties).…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The attacks on September 11, 2001 brought to light the many failures of our law enforcement and central intelligence community. In order to combat these issues the Government quickly enacted a bill to fix some of these issues. This new bill was called the Patriot Act. President George W. Bush signed it into law on October 26, 2001. It gave law enforcement and intelligence agencies many new tools and rules to protect the United States from terrorist attacks.…

    • 1579 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Patriot Act violates this right by allowing the government to intercept the communications of innocent civilians. Under the Patriot Act, intercepting communication no longer requires a judge’s approval. Older wiretapping laws were bypassed through the Patriot Act and now provide the FBI with easy access to emails and voicemails. Phone records, voicemails, and emails are all important forms of communication that may contain sensitive information. When there is greater judicial oversight, there is greater review of available evidence and warrants can be used to specify what information will be collected by the agency.…

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    After 9/11 occurred, the Bush Administration designed a law called the “Patriot Act.” The purpose of the Patriot Act is to surveil cellphones, tablets and anything that has a connection to the internet without you knowing. It is unconstitutional…

    • 1280 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Patriot Act is an act that was created by Congress. It was signed into law by former President George W. Bush on October 26th, 2001. The overall goal of The Patriot Act was to strengthen the powers of higher law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism.…

    • 1730 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It gave the government surveillance powers in four areas (ACLU). Record searches, which expanded the government’s ability to look at records on an individual’s activity being held by third parties. Secret searches, which lets the government search property without notice of owner. Intelligent searches, which expands a narrow exception to the Fourth Amendment that had been created for the collection of foreign intelligence information and “Trap and trace” searches, which expands Fourth Amendment exception for spying that collect “addressing” information about the origin and destination of communications (ACLU). The Patriot Act has definitely changed things since September 9th, 2001 and many individuals have not agreed to it.…

    • 994 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays