The Patriot Act of 2001, also known as the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, is a United States federal law that was enacted in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. The law was designed to give law enforcement and intelligence agencies greater powers to investigate and prevent terrorist activities.

The Patriot Act has been controversial since its passage. Critics argue that it violates the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and that it gives the government too much power to spy on its citizens. Supporters of the Patriot Act argue that it is necessary to protect the country from terrorism, and that the Fourth Amendment does not apply to foreign terrorists.

The Patriot Act has been amended several times since it was passed. The most recent amendment was made in 2015. The amendment made some changes to the law, including narrowing the definition of “material support to terrorism” and requiring the government to obtain a warrant before accessing certain types of records.

The Patriot Act is a complex law with a long history. It is a powerful tool that can be used to protect the country from terrorism but also to restrict civil liberties. Be aware of the Patriot Act’s provisions and exercise caution when exercising your rights.

Key provisions of the Patriot Act allow the government to:

• Conduct surveillance on suspected terrorists without a warrant.
• Seize records from businesses and individuals without a warrant.
• Detain suspected terrorists without charge for up to seven days.
• Use roving wiretaps, which allow them to tap multiple phones without having to get a warrant for each phone.
• Share information with other countries without having to get a warrant.

The Patriot Act has been used to investigate and prosecute a number of people, including suspected terrorists and their associates. It has also been used to collect information on people who are not suspected of any wrongdoing.

Source:

http://books.google.com/books?id=tA11Sh2eth0C