The U.S. Patriot Act and Controversy Essay

Key Components of the USA PATRIOT Act

Signed into law by President G. W Bush immediately after the 9/11 attacks, the USA PATRIOT Act was meant for Uniting & Strengthening America by the Provision of Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 and in effect it acted as a timely response to the September 11th attacks. The key components of the USA PATRIOT Act are characterized by a crosscutting reduction in the restrictions imposed on law enforcement entities curtailing their domain of influence in carrying out telephone, e-mail communication , medical and financial searches; such intelligence liberties have bequeathed the Secretary of the Treasury with the autonomous power of standardizing financial transactions and extended the domain of influence of law enforcement in our foreign policies as evident in the immigration department where authority have been vested for detaining and deporting immigrants who may have some links with terror groups (USA TODAY, 2011, p. 1).

Key Components Related to Intelligence Gathering

The key components of the USA PATRIOT Act which are related to intelligence gathering include such titles as enhancing domestic security against terrorism, maintaining a steady vigilance in our surveillance processes, preventing terrorism through the institution of anti-money laundering policies, securing the security of our border, sharing intelligence information with relevant authorities and giving a helping hand to the victims of terrorism (Electronic Frontier Foundation, 2003, p. 1).

Title 1: Enhancing Domestic Security against Terrorism

This component seeks to unearth all the viable avenues through which the provision of domestic security services may be accorded to U.S citizenry in a bid to prevent terrorism. To achieve this end, the title advocates for a strong FBI and counter-terrorism base by agitating for the provision of sufficient financial backing in this venture. This title does not only mandate the military with the sole responsibility of checking and tackling weapons of mass destruction, but it also expands the President’s domain of influence in terrorism matters as envisaged in the National Electronic Crime Task Force. It is also within the jurisdiction of this title that the authority to use critical intelligence tools by law enforcement personnel’s is vested that they can make timely detections of any targeted terror plots. The main controversy in this title is that with such broad liberties in intelligence gathering the civilian’s legal entitlement to privacy would be compromised, and as some have argued, ‘care must be taken lest we strike the innocent instead of the guilty’ (Eggen, 2004, p. 1).

Legal and Civil Issues in the fore mentioned Title

The intelligence gathering liberties envisaged in the provisions of roving wiretaps and investigative authority over business’ records and documents went way beyond the anticipated civil legal entitlements. It is feared that if provisions on roving wiretaps, access to business documents and the ‘lone wolf’ measure were not tentatively drawn, they could pose a potential danger to civil rights of the U.S citizenry in the event that the intelligent personnel abuse their professional liberties (USA TODAY, 2011, p. 1).

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Title; Enhancing Domestic security against Terrorism

Whereas enhancing domestic security against terrorism is characterized by numerous strengths in equipping law enforcement personnel with the necessary tools to curb terrorism and ensure that security thrives in the entire nation, it is also marred with some inherent weaknesses as evident in undermining civil liberties of the U.S citizenry.

Reference List

Eggen, D. (2004). Key Part of Patriot Act Ruled Unconstitutional. Web.

Electronic Frontier Foundation. (2003). EFF Analysis of the Provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. Web.

USA TODAY. (2011). Key Patriot Act elements up for vote. Web.

USA TODAY. (2011). Obama signs Patriot Act 4-year extension from France. Web.