by Laila Khan

Created on: August 13, 2008

The US government responded to the worst terrorist attack that the country has seen with the most infamous policy that has been enacted since the Alien and Sedition Act. The USA PATRIOT Act, or the "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001" was created to protect the citizens of the United States from another disastrous terrorist attack. Though it is a laudable goal, the means are by no means just.

The negative effects of this atrocious policy are widespread, but the US citizens have felt the most severe impacts. The USA PATRIOT Act was intended to protect the very citizens that it has harmed. A simple look at the policy shows why it is harmful to all citizens.

Three of the amendments in the Bill of Rights, and six total clauses, are violated by the USA PATRIOT Act. Though times of danger do sometimes call for extreme means, the systematic violation of constitutional rights is too extreme for any potential threat. Though there are always certain limitations on free will, such as limits on criminal activity, certain rights are considered so vital to life that they should not be abridged. These rights are what comprise the Bill of Rights, and six of these are violated under the USA PATRIOT Act.

Two clauses in the First Amendment are violated. The freedom to engage in religious and political organizations is limited, as the USA PATRIOT Act allows the government to monitor these groups without any probably cause. The First Amendment protects the right to peacefully assemble and freely exercise religion. If the government can interrupt or interfere in religious and political organizations at any time, the rights to assemble and exercise religious beliefs are no longer protected. Secondly, the freedom of speech clause is violated due to the potential prosecution of those subpoenaed. If the US government subpoenas a person in control of records, such as library records, that person can be prosecuted if they mention the subpoena to anyone. Freedom of speech is not protected when citizens can be prosecuted for things that they say.

The Fourth Amendment is also violated. This amendment protects people from unreasonable searches. This is clearly violated by the USA PATRIOT Act's allowance of search and seizure without a warrant and without any probable cause. Any citizen can have his or her belongings searched by the government, and he or she does not even have to be alerted about the search.

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