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[[Image:Gwbushsigningpatriotact.jpg|thumb|right|300px|President George W. Bush signing Patriot Act before bipartisan gathering of members of Congress]]

[[Image:Gwbushsigningpatriotact.jpg|thumb|right|300px|President George W. Bush signing Patriot Act before bipartisan gathering of members of Congress]]

The '''[[USA PATRIOT ACT]] of 2001''' -- The [[Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act]] of 2001 (more commonly known as simply the Patriot Act) -- is an anti-[[terrorism]] bill written in response to the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]]. It was signed into law by [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] on October 26th, 45 days after the terrorist attacks.  The primary purpose of the bill was to provide [[law enforcement]] with the tools it needs to fight the domestic [[war on terror]]. The bill expanded the definitions of other [[crime]]-fighting bills to include [[terrorist]]s, it provided funds to the [[Justice Department]] for fighting terrorism, and, made broad changes to [[surveillance]] and [[intelligence]] procedures.

The '''USA PATRIOT Act of 2001''' -- The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (more commonly known as simply the Patriot Act) -- is an anti-[[terrorism]] bill written in response to the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]]. It was signed into law by [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] on October 26th, 45 days after the terrorist attacks.  The primary purpose of the bill was to provide [[law enforcement]] with the tools it needs to fight the domestic [[war on terror]]. The bill expanded the definitions of other [[crime]]-fighting bills to include [[terrorist]]s, it provided funds to the [[Justice Department]] for fighting terrorism, and, made broad changes to [[surveillance]] and [[intelligence]] procedures.

The Patriot Act, especially by its opponents, is often confused with the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force]] (P.L. 107-40) <ref>http://news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/terrorism/sjres23.es.html</ref>, which allows the President to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against 9/11-related terrorism (and was the basis for [[Guantanamo]]-related issues).

The Patriot Act, especially by its opponents, is often confused with the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force]] (P.L. 107-40) <ref>http://news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/terrorism/sjres23.es.html</ref>, which allows the President to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against 9/11-related terrorism (and was the basis for [[Guantanamo]]-related issues).