Changes

[[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 26, 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 26, 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. Certain provisions of the Patriot Act for expanded use of surveillance coupled with [[FISA abuse]] were used by the [[Obama administration]] to spy on the [[2016 Trump campaign]] and [[Trump transition]].

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 at the time of its passage was often confused by [[mainstream media]] with the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force]] (P.L. 107-40) in [[Iraq]],<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).

Key parts of the PATRIOT Act expired on June 1, 2015, due to lack of congressional approval. This included Section 215, which pertains to the ability of the [[National Security Agency]] to store records of all phone calls made in the United States. This was amended in the USA Freedom Act, passed on June 2, 2015, which gives the phone companies control of the record and the government would then have to receive a warrant to receive records of a number associated with any terrorism.

Key parts of the PATRIOT Act expired on June 1, 2015, due to lack of congressional approval. This included Section 215, which pertains to the ability of the [[National Security Agency]] to store records of all phone calls made in the United States. This was amended in the USA Freedom Act, passed on June 2, 2015, which gives the phone companies control of the record and the government would then have to receive a warrant to receive records of a number associated with any terrorism.