Discussion Questions

Aired, September 8, 2003

Attorney General John Ashcroft defends the U.S.A. Patriot Act amidst criticism from the ACLU that the measure violates civil liberties. Ashcroft says that the anti-terrorism measure passed by Congress after the September 11 attacks has been key to the nation's efforts to thwart attacks against Americans.

1. What recent law expands U.S. law enforcement's surveillance and intelligence-gathering powers? What is the ACLU? How has it responded to the enactment of the this law?

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2. What is a "sneak-and-peek" warrant? Do you think the provision of the U.S.A. Patriot act that allows for "sneak-and-peek" warrants is necessary? Explain. What actions have hampered funding for the "sneak and peek" provision of the act?

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3. Who is John Ashcroft? What arguments is he using to lobby for financial support of the "sneak-and-peek" provision?

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4. Are all parts of the U.S.A. Patriot Act considered to be controversial? Explain.

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Related Links

CNN.com: Ashcroft kicks off campaign to defend Patriot Act (http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/19/ashcroft.patriot.act/index.html)

CNN.com: ACLU files lawsuit against Patriot Act (http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/07/30/patriot.act/index.html)

Holt, Rinehart and Winston: American Government - The Bill of Rights (http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/arbiter/pRedirect?project=hrwonline&siteId=457&pageId=3010)

ACLU: USA PATRIOT Act (http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12126&c=207)

White House: Department of Homeland Security (http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/)

Background - The Patriot Acts In A Nutshell (http://civilliberty.about.com/library/content/blPatriotAct.htm)

Analysis of Patriot Act I by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Surveillance/Terrorism_militias/20011031_eff_usa_patriot_analysis.php)

Keywords

Bill of Rights, civil liberties, U.S.A. Patriot Act, ACLU, homeland security, John Ashcroft