Can someone please explain the Patriot Act to me in human language?

Question

I have an article written in law from wikipedia; and no this not for homework...

Answer 1

Basicly, we have no rights left. The government can take away all of our privacy, and it's "legal" under this bill.

Answer 2

Wow. It's amazing how many flat our wrong answers there are. The misconceptions and various skewed perspectives are one thing, but the flat out incorrect statements are frightening.

Here's what the Patriot Act itself did. Not what dozens of other laws passed in the last five years or fifty years have done. Just the Patriot Act. And the link below is to the full text of the Act, to verify.

Most of Title I just sets forth the intent. Most of Title II and Title V allows information gained from various intelligence gathering programs to be shared between law enforcement agencies.

The rest of Title II expands surveillance authority to allow roving taps where a specific target is difficult to tie to a particular line, extends the duration of taps to 120 days for terrorism-related activities, and makes other procedural changes to FISA.

Note. The NSA warrantless wiretapping program violates even the expanded authority under FISA (50 USC 7201 et seq). There was never any attempt to make the NSA program comply with the law, even with the expansions granted by the Patriot Act.

Title III provides extra tools for tracking money laundering and funding of terrorist activities. Title IV expands border security. Title VI sets up a fund for victim relief.

Title VII and Title IX provide yet more tools for sharing information between intelligence agencies. Title VIII adds and expands the list of federal crimes relating to terrorism.

The most controversial provisions are those in Title V, and a few others, than dramatically expand the type of information that can be obtained by law enforcement personnel. School records, medical records, library records, etc. However, while these might be odious and intrusive, none of these are actually unconstitutional, since they all apply in situations where a person arguably has no reasonable expectation of privacy.

The Patriot Act is like pulling open the curtains in someone's house. Yes, it's a minor invasion of privacy, and it's rude. But it's nowhere near as bad as dozens of other laws that have been passed over the past few years or the past few decades.

Answer 3

You are an American.
The acts of a few people on one day will change our country.
You as an American, are scared.
Yes, scared enough to vote for politicians that believe you are a stupid sheep.
So now the government can hold you without bringing charges, or letting you speak to an attorney.

Come into your home to do a "sneak n peak" without clearing it with a judge first.

Listen in to your phonecalls to another country, with no probable cause and again, no judge signing off it.

Go to your internet service provider, school, library, credit card company, bank and doctor and get your personal private records without a judges order.

You should get the picture. Patriot Act = Demise of Constitution

Answer 4

There is no simple way to explain the patriot act.
The important thing to remember, is that it is designed to keep us safe at home, and despite the all the whining you hear about it.
It is sunseted, so that all of it expires at a certain date, and must be reapproved by both house, and senate.You know all those people that keep saying that Bush has taken away your rights. They are the ones that passed the bill,

Answer 5

Google it.
My problem with it is Gov doesn't have to have warrant anymore to tap your phone. Lots of loose and vague descriptions that could lead to misinterpetations that frankly scare the hell out of me.
Second, it make habeas corpus null and void. Google that.

Answer 6

it is pretty in depth and just outlined what actions the government can take to prevent terrorism. That is the basic part, but its much more detailed and much more than can be described on here...

Answer 7

real simple..its called fighting al qaeda on their level..you see the people weve caught overseas plotting to blowup our planes and buldings really dont respond well to saying please or singing kumbayah...theyd actually like to kill you unprovoked and the patriot act is a way to get information to stop them before they do.

Answer 8

http://www.slate.com/id/2087984

Here's a good article.