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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).

==Passage of the Act==

==Passage of the Act==

==Expiration==

==Expiration==

Sixteen sections of the original bill were set to expire on December 31st, 2001, unless Congress decided to extend them or make them permanent. These sections were all from Title II of the act, the title which contained surveillance procedures, including the controversial ones mentioned above. After months of wrangling, negotiation, and debate (and two deadline extensions) Congress finally on March 2nd, 2006 passed a bill which renewed the Patriot Act but implemented additional safeguards for civil liberties.<ref>Diamond, John. “Senate Passes Patriot Act Changes; Civil liberties protections added to anti-terror law clear way for renewal” USA Today. March 2nd, 2006, p A.8</ref> Most of the measures were permanent, but the roving wiretap provision was extended only until 2009. Section 215, the libraries provision, was also extended to 2009, but now recipients of the FISA warrant may petition the government after one year to remove the gag order.

Sixteen sections of the original bill were set to expire on December 31st, 2001, unless Congress decided to extend them or make them permanent. These sections were all from Title II of the act, the title which contained surveillance procedures, including the controversial ones mentioned above. After months of wrangling, negotiation, and debate (and two deadline extensions) Congress finally on March 2nd, 2006 passed a bill which renewed the Patriot Act but implemented additional safeguards for civil liberties.<ref>Diamond, John. “Senate Passes Patriot Act Changes; Civil liberties protections added to anti-terror law clear way for renewal” USA Today. March 2nd, 2006, p A.8</ref> Most of the measures were permanent, but the roving wiretap provision was extended only until 2009. Section 215, the libraries provision, was also extended to 2009, but now recipients of the FISA warrant may petition the government after one year to remove the gag order. Key parts of the Act expired on June 1, 2015, in a special Sunday session, due to lack of action, but most of these provisions were restored due to the USA Freedom Act's passage the following day.

==Success==

==Success==