Patriot Act Primer
Key Documents & Links Relating to the USA Patriot Act. Compiled by Washingtonpost.com November 3, 2005
The USA PATRIOT Act, approved overwhelmingly by Congress after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, greatly expanded the government's power to monitor, search, detain or deport suspects in terrorism-related investigations.
The legislation also expanded the scope of National Security Letters, a type of administrative subpoena created in the 1970s which enabled the FBI to review in secret the customer records of suspected foreign agents. Changes under the Patriot Act allow the FBI to use the letters to scrutinize U.S. residents and visitors who are not alleged to be terrorists or spies.
Businesses that receive the letters are required to turn over electronic records about finances, telephone calls, e-mail and other personal information. The letters may be issued independently by FBI field offices and are not subject to judicial review unless a case comes to court.
Key documents and links:
Graphic: National Security Letter
Text of the USA PATRIOT Act
Justice Department USA PATRIOT Act Web site
Declaration of David Szady, Aug. 31, 2005 (PDF)
George Christian, ACLU v. Justice Department, Aug. 31, 2005 (PDF)
American Civil Liberties Union National Security Letters Web site
American Library Association USA PATRIOT Act Web site
Freedom of Information documents on the USA PATRIOT Act (Electronic Privacy Information Center)
"USA PATRIOT Act: Background and Comparison of House- and Senate-approved Reauthorization and Related Legislative Action" (Congressional Research Service, Aug. 9, 2005)
"Administrative Subpoenas and National Security Letters in Criminal and Intelligence Investigations: A Sketch" (Congressional Research Service, April 15, 2005)
For further reading:
"Court Vacates an FBI Gag Order" (The Post, Sept. 10, 2005)
"Library Challenges FBI Request" (The Post, Aug. 26, 2005)
Key Part of Patriot Act Ruled Unconstitutional (The Post, Sept. 30, 2004)
"U.S. Uses Secret Evidence In Secrecy Fight With ACLU" (The Post, Aug. 20, 2004)
"ACLU Was Forced To Revise Release On Patriot Act Suit" (The Post, May 13, 2004)
"Patriot Act Suppresses News Of Challenge to Patriot Act" (The Post, April 29, 2004)
"Ashcroft: Patriot Act Provision Unused" (The Post, Sept. 18, 2003)
"Fierce Fight Over Secrecy, Scope of Law" (The Post, Sept. 8, 2003)
"Local Officials Rise Up to Defy The Patriot Act" (The Post, April 21, 2003)
"U.S. Steps Up Secret Surveillance" (The Post, March 24, 2003)
"Monitoring Puzzles Iraqis in U.S. " (The Post, Nov. 20, 2002)
"Broad U.S. Wiretap Powers Upheld" (The Post, Nov. 19, 2002)
"FBI Misused Secret Wiretaps, According to Memo" (The Post, Oct. 10. 2002)
"Fighting Terror With Databases" (The Post, Feb. 16, 2002)
"An Intelligence Giant in the Making" (The Post, Nov. 4, 2001)
"House Bill Would Expand Federal Detention Powers" (The Post, Oct. 2, 2001)
