The USA Patriot Act
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001
See Also
The War on Terrorism and Civil Liberties
Created in response to the terrorism acts of September 11,
2001, the Patriot Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October
26, 2001. The Patriot Act quickly passed through the House of Representatives
with a vote 357 (yea)-66 (nay), and passed through the Senate with a vote of
98-1.
Critics of the Patriot Act claim that the broad anti-privacy
powers given to law enforcement officials are infringing on our civil
liberties. Proponents argue that such expanded investigative authority is
needed now to crush any further acts of terrorism before they occur.
Libraries are most concerned with the laws that expand legal
use of electronic surveillance. Specifically, Title II: Advanced Surveillance
Procedures, sections 215 and 216 contain legislation that impacts libraries.
Section 215: Access to records and other items under the
Foreign Intelligence
This legislation allows the FBI to obtain a court order
without probable cause from a secret court in order to obtain records, papers,
documents, and other items for an authorized intelligence investigation. It
also forbids persons who produce such “tangible things” from disclosing that the
FBI accessed that information.
Section 216: Modification of authorities relating to use of
pen registers and trap and trace devices
This legislation allows extension of telephone monitoring
laws to cover information relating to Internet usage (e-mail addresses, IP
addresses, and URLs for websites). It allows pen registers, trap and trace
devices, and roving wiretaps for electronics communications.
Read some current books on these issues:
| Call Number |
Title |
Author |
| 973.931 Brill |
After: How America Confronted the September 12 Era |
Steven Brill |
| |
Fear’s Empire: War, Terrorism and Democracy |
Benjamin Barber |
| 363.33 Lapierr |
Guns, Freedom, and Terrorism |
Wayne LaPierre |
| 363.3209 Gottfrie |
Homeland Security Versus Constitutional Rights |
Ted Gottfried |
| 323.4909 Lost Lib |
Lost Liberties: Ashcroft and the Assault on Personal Freedom |
Cynthia Brown, editor |
| 070.4499 Schecht |
Media Wars: News at a Time of Terror |
Danny Schechter |
| Gov Doc PR 43.14: H 75 |
National Strategy for Homeland Security |
Office of Homeland Security |
| 323.0973 Chang |
Silencing Political Dissent |
Nancy Chang |
| |
Terrorism and Tyranny: Trampling Freedom, Justice, and Peace
to Rid the World of Evil |
James Bovard |
| 363.3209 Heymann |
Terrorism, Freedom and Security: Winning Without War |
Philip Heymann |
| 323.0973 War On |
The War on Our Freedoms: Civil Liberties in an Age of
Terrorism |
edited by R. Leone and G. Anrig |
| |
Why America Slept: The Failure to Prevent 9/11 |
Gerald Posner |
| 303.484 Sunnstei |
Why Societies Need Dissent |
Cass Sunstein |
| R 973.931 NATIONA |
The 9/11 Commission Report |
The National Commission on
Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |
Want to learn more about the Patriot Act? Visit these Websites:
CRS Report for Congress/The USA Patriot Act: A Legal
Analysis
http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RL31377.pdf
Electronic Frontier Foundation
http://www.eff.org/patriot/
Electronic Privacy Information Center
http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/usapatriot/
U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
www.whitehouse.gov/homeland
U.S. Dept. of Justice’s Patriot Act Page (has the full text
of the Patriot Act)
http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/
Make Your Voice
Heard!
Register to Vote:
Ada County
Elections Office:
http://www.adaweb.net/enter.htm
Contact Your
Representatives:
Congressman C.L.
"Butch" Otter: http://www.house.gov/otter/
Congressman Mike
Simpson: http://www.house.gov/simpson/
Senator Larry
Craig: http://craig.senate.gov/fp_cuts1.htm
Senator Mike Crapo:
http://crapo.senate.gov/
