The legislation that was put into effect in the most immediate haste following September the 11th 2001. The bill gives the law and the federal government almost unlimited power over you. The Patriot act is also known as the raping of the Constitution.
Violates the Fourth Amendment, which says the government cannot conduct a search without obtaining a warrant and showing probable cause to believe that the person has committed or will commit a crime.
Violates the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech by prohibiting the recipients of search orders from telling others about those orders, even where there is no real need for secrecy.
Violates the First Amendment by effectively authorizing the FBI to launch investigations of American citizens in part for exercising their freedom of speech.
Violates the Fourth Amendment by failing to provide notice - even after the fact - to persons whose privacy has been compromised. Notice is also a key element of due process, which is guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.
Records searches. It expands the government's ability to look at records on an individual's activity being held by a third parties. (Section 215)
Secret searches. It expands the government's ability to search private property without notice to the owner. (Section 213)
Intelligence searches. It expands a narrow exception to the Fourth Amendment that had been created for the collection of foreign intelligence information (Section 218).
"Trap and trace" searches. It expands another Fourth Amendment exception for spying that collects "addressing" information about the origin and destination of communications, as opposed to the content (Section 214).
Violates the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech by prohibiting the recipients of search orders from telling others about those orders, even where there is no real need for secrecy.
Violates the First Amendment by effectively authorizing the FBI to launch investigations of American citizens in part for exercising their freedom of speech.
Violates the Fourth Amendment by failing to provide notice - even after the fact - to persons whose privacy has been compromised. Notice is also a key element of due process, which is guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.
Records searches. It expands the government's ability to look at records on an individual's activity being held by a third parties. (Section 215)
Secret searches. It expands the government's ability to search private property without notice to the owner. (Section 213)
Intelligence searches. It expands a narrow exception to the Fourth Amendment that had been created for the collection of foreign intelligence information (Section 218).
"Trap and trace" searches. It expands another Fourth Amendment exception for spying that collects "addressing" information about the origin and destination of communications, as opposed to the content (Section 214).
by ryan gilr0y October 01, 2004
1. A whole bunch of words that will slowly change an already disfunctional democracy into a completely functional dictatorship or oligarchy.
2. A few papers that could ruin your life.
2. A few papers that could ruin your life.
by Über-liberal August 19, 2005
A kneejerk response to word9/11/word that has the Founding Fathers spinning in their graves. The single greatest advancement of fascism in United States history, and it's only the beginning...
by Ninja Disaster July 02, 2003
An excuse for George W. Bush (you might want to look him up) to enslave every man, woman, and child AND for him to shed up what is left of the Constitution.
And the Patriot act is supposed to prevent terrorists from killing people to take our freedom. Well, after this how much freedom will we have left?
by weirdgirl September 09, 2003
One of the foremost proofs that the United States of America is the most hypocritical nation in the entire world.
Also an attempt on the US Government's part to destroy as much of the Bill of Rights as is humanly possible without everyone noticing.
Also an attempt on the US Government's part to destroy as much of the Bill of Rights as is humanly possible without everyone noticing.
The Patriot Act is a good example of how the USA is well on its way to becoming a police state. We're already a bureaucracy, we may as well take the leap.
by Nemuko May 10, 2003
Really the "USA PATRIOT ACT," and acronym meaning "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act." Like most of the Bush administration's actions, this one sickens me. Passed with almost no congressional review in the wake of 9/11 (and thus taking advantage of our emotional state), the Patriot Act gives the Executive Branch and law enforcement almost Orwellian powers of investigation and presidence over the Constitution.
If the Founding Fathers were alive today, they'd probably stage another revolution against our current government.
by Mack June 29, 2004
by Penguin Chick June 15, 2008