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.