Explain why there were reservations in regards to renewing the USA Patriot Act in 2005 . What provisions were made in the 2006 version of the USA Patriot Act?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Although the House of Representatives voted to renew the law in December, in the Senate some believed the 2001 law passed too quickly.
• They argued that many of the provisions expanded governmental authority too far.
• The Bush administration contended that law enforcement agencies employed the provisions carefully, using them only to stop terrorist attacks.
• Congress accused the government of selectively releasing information and hiding unfavorable reports; they also said that agencies were classifying public documents in an effort to hide governmental activities.
• They were especially critical of "sneak and peek" provisions that allowed the government to search for information without informing the person who was being investigated.
• Concerns were raised about provisions for gathering secret information and the original Patriot Act stipulations about the denial of legal representation in terrorism investigations.
• Under the renewed act, when the government seeks information, the request can be challenged in court.
• When information is requested in a terrorist investigation, suspects and others involved may talk about it. Suspects may also seek counsel from an attorney.
• The renewal requires retailers to maintain information on sales of over-the-counter drugs that could be used to produce methamphetamines.
• The government has the right to intercept communications; criminal intelligence can be given to agencies charged with national security, and the security community can openly communicate with the law enforcement community.
• The renewed law also extends the time suspects can be kept under surveillance and allows the government to seize electronic or other evidence with a warrant.
• The law also requires Internet and e-mail providers to hand over records.
• Finally, the renewed law allows federal law enforcement agencies to collect national security intelligence if that is their "significant purpose.".