The Patriot Act and Civil Liberties: A Closer Look

Abstract

This paper examines the provisions of the Patriot Act which were designed to increase information sharing between intelligence and law enforcement agencies underscores the implications of their broader investigative scope with respect to our nation's civil liberties and provides recommendations to improve future versions of this legislation. The following analysis maintains that the Patriot Act, with respect to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), designed to improve and increase information sharing between intelligence and law enforcement agencies, goes too far in its reach and includes unnecessary provisions. It is another example of legislative overcompensation enacted in a time of crisis similar to those of the 1950's anti-Communist era and the 1960's civil rights movement. The Patriot Act's broader investigative scope invades our nation's civil liberties and once again unsettles the delicate balance between our nation's strategy on domestic security and the civil liberties that we as a nation and people protect and embrace.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 15, 2006
Accession Number
ADA449681

Entities

People

  • Howard A. Johnston

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civil Rights
  • Congress
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Criminals
  • Domestic Terrorism
  • Governments
  • House Of Representatives
  • Human Rights
  • Intelligence Collection
  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • National Security
  • Surveillance
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Government and Public Administration Law.