oct 26, 2001 - Patriot Act

Description:

The USA PATRIOT Act (commonly known as the Patriot Act) was a landmark Act of the United States Congress, signed into law by President George W. Bush. The formal name of the statute is the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, and the commonly used short name is a contrived acronym that is embedded in the name set forth in the statute.[1]

The Patriot Act was enacted following the September 11 attacks and the 2001 anthrax attacks with the stated goal of tightening U.S. national security, particularly as it related to foreign terrorism. In general, the act included three main provisions:

-expanded surveillance abilities of law enforcement, including by tapping domestic and international phones;
-easier interagency communication to allow federal agencies to more effectively use all available resources in counterterrorism efforts; and
-increased penalties for terrorism crimes and an expanded list of activities which would qualify for terrorism charges.

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