Goes Against The Fifth Amendment example essay topic

The Patriot Act The Patriot Act is a bill that was passed in the wake of 9/11/01. Not even two months after the horrific event which we all know as 911, the bill was passed with great haste and secrecy. The bill was passed on October 26, 2001. The bill was passed to raise the security of the country.

Sadly many speculate that most of the members in congress did not even read the 342 page bill. Within a matter of days the executive branch with its new powers began to initiate many new executive orders, policies, regulations and practices that many feel threaten our rights. The bill has expanded terrorism laws to include domestic terrorism which subjects political organizations to be surveillance, wiretapping, harassment, and criminal charges for political advocacy. Many feel that this is an attack on the first amendment, which is freedom of religion, speech, assembly and freedom of the press. The bill has also expanded the powers of law enforcement agencies (police, FBI, CIA, NSA). Law enforcement agents now have the ability to conduct secret searches, place telephone and internet surveillance, and can access personal medical, financial, and student records with minimal judicial oversight.

Many feel that this is an attack on the fourth amendment which is freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. The FBI agents because of the bill can now investigate American citizens for criminal matters without probable cause, as long as they say it is for intelligence purposes. They also can arrest non-citizens on mere suspicion alone. This goes against the fifth amendment, which states that no person is to be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. None citizens can also be denied readmission to the U. S for using their right of free speech.

This goes against the first amendment which is stated in the second paragraph. Suspects can also be detained indefinitely in six months increments without any real judicial review. This goes against the first, the fifth, both of which are stated in the paragraphs above. It also goes against the fourteenth, eighth and sixth amendment.

The fourteenth amendment states that all persons (Citizens and non-citizens) within the US are entitled to due process and the equal protection of the laws. The eighth amendment states that no excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment shall be imposed. The sixth amendment states that everyone has the right to a speedy public trial by an impartial jury, right to be informed of the facts of the accusation, right to confront witnesses and have the assistance of counsel. I personally am against this bill. I hate it with a passion.

I believe that the country does need better security. I also believe that sometimes our rights must be overlooked to ensure our future. Yet, I do not believe that anyone should misuse their powers. Sadly we do not live in a perfect world and the powers this bill has given to the executive branch I feel have been used for evil. The executive branch is actually breaking the rights of people on a very large scale. The executive branch has abused their power so much that its plain disgusting to me now.

So far 8,000 Arabic and South Asian immigrants have been interrogated because of their religion and ethnic background. Thousands of Arabic and South Asian immigrants have been held in secretive federal custody for weeks or months, sometimes without any charges filed against them. The government has refused to release their name and whereabouts, even though they were ordered to by the courts. The press and public are barred from immigration court hearings of those detained. The government is allowed to monitor conversations between federal detainees and their lawyer. The FBI is now allowed to spy on religious and political organizations without any evidence of wrongdoing.

American citizens suspected of terrorism whether are being held in custody indefinitely without being charged and without access to lawyers. With all the bad things the executive branch has done because of this bill, it is impossible for me to be for it. The government is supposedly doing all this to save the lives of thousands, by catching terrorist and preventing any further attacks. Yet what is the point of doing it, if in the end we ourselves destroy the lives of many in the name of national security.