Position Paper - The Patriot Act : National Security versus Civil Liberties
AP Government and Politics
Length: 3-4 pages
Due next meeting
Credit: 40 points
Background:
The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, popularly known as the “Patriot Act” was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2001. Since that year, there has been a reauthorization of the Act in 2006 and 2011, with some modifications. Among the original provisions of the Patriot Act are the following:
l The government may tap any telephone used by a suspect after receiving a court order.
l The government may tap Internet connections with a court order.
l The government may seize voicemail with a court order.
l Investigators can share information learned in grand jury proceedings.
l Any noncitizen may be held as a security risk for seven days, or longer if certified to be a security risk.
l The federal government may track money across U.S. Borders and among banks.
l The statute of limitations on terrorist crimes is eliminated, with increased penalties.
Noncitizens who are believed to be terrorists or believed to have harbored terrorists will be tried by a military court, which will operate with the following provisions:
l The accused are tried before a commission of military officers.
l A 2/3 vote of the commission is needed to find the accused guilty.
l An appeal by the accused may be made only to the Secretary of Defense or to the President.
The Assignment:
In a 3-4 page paper, debate the competing issues of National Security versus Civil Liberties. Take a position on this issue, but be sure to adequately address both sides of the argument. Below are three links to the contents of the PATRIOT Act, President Obama’s reauthorization of the act, and an article with Pro and Con arguments. In addition to these resources, find one news article showing the effectiveness and one news article showing abuses of the PATRIOT Act. Be sure to reference the articles in your paper.
Resources: This list is by no means complete.
More information on the contents of The Patriot Act .
stuffworks.com/patriot-act.htm
National Public Radio summaries of provisions and positions on the PATRIOT Act .org/news/specials/patriotact/patriotactprovisions.html
President Obama’s extension of the PATRIOT Act in 2011 - fingtonpost.com/2011/05/27/patriot-act-extension-signed-obama-autopen_n_867851.html
Article exploring both sides of the Patriot Act debate : imes.com/roomfordebate/2011/09/07/do-we-still-need-the-patriot-act