ABSTRACT
The USA Patriot Act is a broad, far-reaching act that provides law enforcement many new tools, presumptively for use in fighting terrorism. It was enacted on October 26, 2001, only forty-five days after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The Patriot Act grants to law enforcement new investigative tools that violate or circumvent the Constitution in numerous ways. The Patriot Act infringes on at least six of the original Bill of Rights, specifically the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments. The Patriot Act redefines terrorism very broadly to include a new range of activities that may be considered acts of "domestic terrorism." There are increasing indications the American people and some federal lawmakers are becoming concerned about the government's use of the Patriot Act to violate traditional civil liberties.
