Where can I find an unbiased description of the patriot act in plain enlgish?

Question

I'm researching this for one of my college courses. I want to know exactly what the patriot act does, in plain english, written in an unbiased manner. I've conducted numerous searchings, and everything I find is either about the pros and cons of the patriot act instead of an explanation of the patriot act itself, or is a very biased article either for or against the patriot act. For now, all I need to know is exactly what it does in plain english. I don't want the pros and cons, and I don't want any biased writing, and at the same time, I don't want it written in a manner that I can't understand.

So does anyone know where I can find and article on the web with a description of the Patriot Act in plain enlgish? Please don't answer my question by trying to explain the Patriot Act for me. Instead, give me a link or a website or something. My sources have to be documented (and can't be from wikipedia), so I'll need a non-wikipeida link as opposed to an explanation in your own words.

Answer 1

Read the Table of Contents for the Act itself -- that pretty much summarizes what each provision does.

http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html

Also, remember that most of the things commonly attributed to the Patriot Act were actually entirely separate pieces of legislation -- so, if you are looking for something in particular, make sure you are reading the correct laws.

Answer 2

Have you tried Homeland Security website and/or Department of Justice (US Attorney's) website.