Legality of the Patriot Act

On October 26th, 2001, just over a month following the devastating attacks on September 11th, in hasty and uncontested action, the United States Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) (ACLU: the USA PATRIOT Act). The Patriot Act, stretching 342 pages in length, was drafted in an attempt to protect the American people from the rising threat of terrorism which had taken root on Sept. 11th (ACLU: The USA PATRIOT Act). The passing of the Patriot Act has generated intense and heated debate among advocates for individual rights as well as those who believe in strict interpretation of the Constitution. Several prominent and prevalent groups, formed to protect the individual right of the American public, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and People For the American Way (PFAW) have expressed desire to reduce the broad scope of power granted to the government by the Patriot Act. Interest groups have lobbied Congress constantly in an effort to have their opinions regarding the Patriot Act recognized and the act amended. …