Patriot Act
Template:Stub The Patriot Act (formally, the `Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001') was an act passed by the congress following the 2001 attacks on World Trade Center. It was passed nearly unanimously by the Senate 98-1, and 357-66 in the House, with the support of members from both political parties[1]. Its purpose is to prevent future devestating terrorist attacks. It removed a certain number of liberties from American citizens, including such things as the right of habeas corpus and it allows for a delayed search warrent, a practicd defended by the Supreme Court; in addition, it allows the government to confiscate the property of any foreigner in the United States, or to ignore any foreign bank for any reason whatsoever, even if not security related. Despite the cries of liberal activist groups, such as the ACLU, there have not been any verified abuses of any of the provisions of the Patriot Act[2]. The act allows investigators of terror the same tools that have always been available to those who investigate drug trafficking and organized crime.
Revisions
In the wake of the controversy over the firings of US attorneys by the Justice Department, Congress moved to strip the Patriot Act of the provision permitting the Attorney General to appoint new US attorneys without the advice and consent of the Senate. The Bush Administration made no objection.
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