Who controlled congress when the PATRIOT Act was passed, democrats or republicans?

Question

No assertions as to the positive or negative aspects to the act, just who controlled congress, dems or repubs? I had someone on this forum say the democratic-controlled congress passed it. To be sure, democrats voted for it, but my understanding was that democrats were not in control of congress then.

Duck - you are sad and pathetic. There was no bias on the act or who passed the act - it is a simple question. Too bad your ignorance won't allow an objective response.

Answer 1

the dems voted the second time around to renew it, because it was slipped into a bill at the 11th hour that no one bothered to read. I guess they just trusted the president. Very disappointing, and many have come back and said they never realized they were re authorizing it. And funny Bush had to slip it in and avoind it going to the floor,,because he is SO SURE it is the right thing to do.l

Answer 2

Republicans were the majority in Congress when the Patriot Act was passed. A majority of Democrats did vote for it, but Republicans were indeed in control of Congress.

Answer 3

Definitely Republican . The Patriot Act has been around for years. Democrats have controlled Congress for only 4 months.
The Dems renewed it, but only with appropriate changes that preserved our liberties. Bush went along kicking and screaming

Answer 4

Some Dem's voted for the act but Republicans held congress.
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety" Ben Franklin

Answer 5

Republicans had the house and I think, but I'm not sure, that the Dem's had the Senate. There was a period of time early in Bush's first term when the Dem's had the senate but I don't know it the PA was passed during that time.

Answer 6

I and Dr Ron Paul oppose the Patriot Act.

And then there’s the so-called Patriot Act. As originally proposed,

* Expanded the federal government's ability to use wiretaps without judicial oversight;
* Allowed nationwide search warrants non-specific to any given location, nor subject to any local judicial oversight;
* Made it far easier for the government to monitor private internet usage;
* Authorized “sneak and peek” warrants enabling federal authorities to search a person’s home, office, or personal property without that person’s knowledge; and
* Required libraries and bookstores to turn over records of books read by their patrons.


I have fought this fight for many years. I sponsored a bill to overturn the Patriot Act and have won some victories, but today the threat to your liberty and privacy is very real. We need leadership at the top that will prevent Washington from centralizing power and private data about our lives.

Answer 7

The 107th Congress had a Republican Majority in both House and Senate. One of the biggest complaints by Congress was that they were not allowed to read the bill and that they were threatened with more "terrorist attacks" if they did not sign it.

Answer 8

Republicans. Some Democrats voted for it. Almost ALL Republicans did.

Answer 9

A party 'controls' congress to the extent they keep thier membership inline. Support for the Patriot Act was pretty much bi-partizan.

Answer 10

When it passed the Republicans were in control. They were also in control when Clinton tried to pass it to fight terrorism.