Heritage Foundation Leadership for America

The Patriot Act is a controversial law, some provisions of which will soon require reauthorization. In the post–9/11 world, it is important to understand just what the legislation permits and what it does not. While Congress and the President have constitutional obligations to protect Americans against attacks by foreign actors, that does not mean that the use of such power is always wise or necessary. The Patriot Act has come to symbolize an overstepping of the executive branch’s power. Unfortunately, that image is based largely on misinformation.

This Special Report describes specifically what powers the Patriot Act grants, the need for these powers, the safeguards built into the Patriot Act, and how it has been used so far.

Contributors include former Attorney General of the United States Edwin Meese, III, Deputy Attorney General of the United States James Comey, Undersecretary for Border and Transportation Security Asa Hutchinson, William J. Bennett, legal analyst Paul Rosenzweig, and homeland security expert James Jay Carafano.

Read The Patriot Act Reader: Understanding the Law's Role in the Global War on Terror (PDF) - Edited by Paul Rosenzweig, Alane Kochems, and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.