Following Provisions Of The Patriot Act example essay topic

Despite the guarantees provided by the Constitution that each individual freedom is protected, there are still instances where individual rights were bypassed. Authorities should give all societal players with an equal and viable opportunity to articulate their concerns in a sustainable manner and the value of their inputs should not be predicated on their economic power. The capability of the state to lessen the outcome of the paradox of democracy would come from increased social empowerment. This paper argues against the continued existence of The Patriot Act, on grounds of it being a threat to American civil liberties. For example, its website, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has declared war on the Bush government, saying that the NSA wiretapping mess is in direct violation of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. It states there that any person has the right to feel safe and secure in his own home, or office, and this includes preclusion against any unwarranted searches and other forms of invasion of privacy.

This revelation has an immense impact on civil liberties. This organization has stated that the Bush administration is out to destroy the sacred wall that separates the executive and legislative branches of government as well as all the checks and balances that have been put in place in them. The President has become a usurper of power, no longer wanting to go to Congress and the Senate to ask for support for whatever directives he deems best. It would seem that it was as if Mr. Bush no longer wants to take time out to defend himself in front of the two bodies of lawmakers. The ACLU considers a violation of the Fourth Amendment as a great offense against the American people. As America was built on a foundation of democracy - which involves trust, with his admission that he authorized such wiretaps, the union feels that he has breached the trust and confidence of the American people.

It is for this reason that the ACLU has violently protested against this matter. II. Key Controversial Provisions of The Patriot Act The Patriot Act, said to have been passed in the wake of the September 11 attacks, is an act "to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement regulatory tools, and for other purposes" (107th Congress 1). The act is said to grant greater powers to federal officials in tracing and intercepting the communication of terrorists for the purposes of foreign intelligence and law enforcement, (Doyle 2) The following provisions of The Patriot Act as the most controversial are: the provisions on information sharing, which "allows information from criminal probes to be shared with intelligence agencies and other parts of government"; roving wiretaps, which allows for "one wiretap authorization to cover multiple devices, eliminating the need for separate court authorizations"; access to records, which allows for "easier access to business records in foreign intelligence investigations"; foreign intelligence wiretaps and searches, which is said to "lower the bar for launching foreign intelligence wiretaps and searches"; "sneak and peak" warrants, which is said to allow authorities to search homes and businesses without "immediately notifying the target of a probe", and the material support provision, which "expands the existing ban on giving 'material support' to terrorists to include 'expert advice or assistance (Abramson and Go doy).