THE PATRIOT ACT

Get the latest Flash player

FreedomConspiracy
October 21, 2008

The USA PATRIOT Act, commonly known as the Patriot Act, is a controversial Act of Congress that U.S. President George W. Bush signed into law on October 26, 2001. The contrived acronym stands for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001" (Public Law Pub.L. 107-56).

The act expands the authority of U.S. law enforcement agencies for the stated purpose of fighting terrorism in the United States and abroad. Among its provisions, the Act increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial and other records; eases restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States; expands the Secretary of the Treasury's authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; and enhances the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The act also expands the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which the USA Patriot Acts expanded law enforcement powers can be applied.

The Act was passed by wide margins in both houses of Congress and was supported by members of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Despite widespread congressional support, it has been criticized for weakening protections of civil liberties. In particular, opponents of the law have criticized its authorization of indefinite detentions of immigrants; searches through which law enforcement officers search a home or business without the owners or the occupants permission or knowledge; the expanded use of National Security Letters, which allows the FBI to search telephone, email and financial records without a court order; and the expanded access of law enforcement agencies to business records, including library and financial records. Since its passage, several legal challenges have been brought against the act, and Federal courts have ruled that a number of provisions are unconstitutional.

Many of the act's provisions were to sunset beginning December 31, 2005, approximately 4 years after its passage. In the months preceding the sunset date, supporters of the act pushed to make its sunsetting provisions permanent, while critics sought to revise various sections to enhance civil liberty protections. In July 2005, the U.S. Senate passed a authorization bill with substantial changes to several sections of the act, while the House authorization bill kept most of the act's original language. The two bills were then reconciled in a conference committee that was criticized by Senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties for ignoring civil liberty concerns. The bill, which removed most of the changes from the Senate version, passed Congress on March 2, 2006 and was signed into law by President George W. Bush on March 9, 2006.

Category: News & Politics

More From: FreedomConspiracy

Play All Stop Autoplaying | Play Next

QuickList(0)

Clear | Save

Statistics & Data

Video Responses (0)

This video has no Responses. Be the first to Post a Video Response.

Text Comments (11) Options

kearkarn (3 weeks ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

Im a Genius with a IQ 132 what is yours - Click my Username for the Test

revic1382016 (3 weeks ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

watch the movie Enemy of the State

ceEw0lka (3 weeks ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

how much freedom are you willing to lose to be "protected against terrorism" by the government?

donyconjux (1 month ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

Fuck George Bush and the people involved in this...may they live forever for this..

venturafor2012 (6 months ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

Freedom is a thing in the past...

Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that didnt commit suicide. John Adams

anonnow88 (7 months ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

yea we r screwed

sonicreindeer (10 months ago) Show Hide

-3

Marked as spam

...against the liberal bastard traitors and dictators currently hijacking our way of life previously taken for granted. Choose your role well 'cause there ain't no turning back once the choice is made.

sonicreindeer (10 months ago) Show Hide

-4

Marked as spam

The truth has just hit the fan. We're not fucked by any stretch of the imagination. You, the reader of this review, are an intelligent American free-thinker who is currently being brainwashed by the lib media and their dangerously oppressive commie agenda. This vid is now YOUR call to action. To reinstate the principle foundation of this country called America for our kids and grandkids. We're involed in a war where there's no sidelines and casualties are many. Have the BALLS to stand...

capitatv (11 months ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

wow

ewjomega (1 year ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

oh well, it passed and we're fucked.

Showing 10 of 11 comments

Show More Comments

View All 11 comments

Would you like to comment?

Join YouTube for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.

YouTube	Programs	Help	Policy	Discover
Contact Us	Advertising	Get Help	Privacy Policy	YouTube on Your Phone
YouTube Store	Developers	YouTube Handbook	Terms of Service	YouTube on Your Site
Press Room	Partnerships	Community Help Forums	Copyright Notices	YouTube on Your TV
Business Blog	Content Management	Safety Center	Community Guidelines	YouTube RSS Feeds
YouTube Blog		Creator's Corner		TestTube

Add YouTube to your Google homepage

Current Location: Worldwide Show locations

THE PATRIOT ACT

More From: FreedomConspiracy

QuickList(0)

Related Videos

Statistics & Data

Video Responses (0)

Text Comments (11) Options

Would you like to comment?