The Patriot Act, officially named the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, is a U.S. federal law enacted after 9/11. It grants law enforcement and intelligence agencies expanded powers to counter terrorism, but has sparked debate over civil liberties and government surveillance. Source: books.google.com/books?id=tA11Sh2eth0C