ABSTRACT
In November 2002, the Homeland Security Act was passed overwhelmingly by both the House and Senate and signed into law by President George W. Bush. The main purpose of the act was to establish the framework for the Department of Homeland Security, the agency intended to coordinate domestic detection and prevention of terrorism. The Homeland Security Act raised questions about the balance of national security versus civil liberties, how to shape the domestic response to an open-ended war against new foes, and whether too much authority was shifting to the executive branch without congressional or legal constraint. Long-term views will likely be shaped by the extent of future terrorism, since future acts would prolong and perhaps expand the new investigations but also would call into question whether sacrifices of liberty are being rewarded with increased security.
