Answer

• Reasons for Passing the Patriot Act

              The discussion between national security and citizens’ rights and freedom has existed in the United States for years. However, the most recent reiteration of the discussion emerged with the enforcement of the USA PATRIOT ACT, following the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11. Therefore, this paper comprehensively discusses the PATRIOT ACT as well as explains why the U.S government had to pass the act quickly and reauthorize it frequently.

              The terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 were the genesis of the U.S war on terror as spearheaded by the Bush administration. In the past, the strategies that the U.S used to eradicate terrorism encompassed focusing on attacks against its interests in foreign lands, as well as the support for other government’s initiatives to deal with the terrorist acts within its borders. Nonetheless, the September 11 increased the Americans’ susceptibility to violence by non-state actors across the country’s boundaries. In response, the U.S restructured its anti-terrorist approaches to curb future attacks by domestic and foreign, terrorists, both known and potential. To expedite the prosecution of terrorists, the U.S Congress enacted the Uniting and Strengthening America policy by offering the necessary tools needed to intercept and thwart terrorism act, known as the USA PATRIOT ACT (Taylor, & Swanson, 2018).

              The PATRIOT ACT was formulated by Congress and consequently signed into law by the former U.S president, George W. Bush in October 2001. The act stretched national security surveillance and brought a myriad of institutional changes, including fostering effective coordination between government agencies. Although certain elements of the act were expected to curb the challenges that followed the September 11 terrorist attacks, most of the elements were from the long-standing wish list of the executive branch on different ways of enhancing its surveillance powers (Taylor, & Swanson, 2018). The U.S government ensured that the PATRIOT ACT was passed quickly to enhance information sharing between foreign intelligence and law enforcement agencies and to collect anti-terrorism intelligence by exploiting the flexible warrants needed of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Moreover, the U.S government had to pass the act so quickly to enlarge wiretap authority over electronic communications, stop the funding used in terrorist activities, and enact compulsory detention and deportation of the U.S non-citizens who are believed to be working closely with terrorists (Taylor, & Swanson, 2018).

              The U.S government kept reauthorizing the PATRIOT ACT to evaluate whether numerous provisions of the act were indeed working as envisioned and to make changes in case the lawmakers or legislators deemed it necessary (Justice, 2006). For instance, the surveillance created sunsets that acted as checkpoints where the executive branch had to demonstrate to the congress that it had not used its new surveillance power wrongly or that technical issues and advances have not significantly changed what the authorities envisioned or intended. Due to numerous liberty and freedom infringement issues that were emerging as a result of the enactment of the patriot act, the U.S government continued reauthorizing the act to ensure that concerns are addressed amicably (Justice, 2006).

              In conclusion, safeguarding Americans from foreseen threats is important. In line with this, the U.S government enacted the Patriot Act that increased national security surveillance and brought a myriad of institutional changes. However, concerns have been raised about the act because it infringes on the freedom and liberty of citizens. This implies that although the U.S government is supposed to do everything possible to safeguard the lives of its citizens, it should never curtail civil rights. Essentially, Americans participated in the Revolutionary War to gain fundamental liberties that they believed were their rights given by God. As such, they should never relinquish their liberties and rights that they have cherished for years for a mere illusion of security.