The Patriot Act
The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate
Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of
2001, commonly known as the USA PATRIOT Act or simply the
Patriot Act, is an American law which was signed into law
by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001.
The Act passed in the Senate by a vote of 98 to 1, and in
the House by a vote of 357 to 66.
Originally passed after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the
Act was formed in response to the terrorist attacks against
the United States, and dramatically expanded the authority
of American law enforcement for the stated purpose of fighting
terrorist acts in the United States and abroad. It has also
been used to detect and prosecute other alleged potential
crimes such as providing false information on terrorism
It was renewed on March 2, 2006 with a vote of 89 to 11
in the Senate and on March 7 280 to 138 in the House. The
renewal was signed into law by President Bush on March 9,
2006.
Among the laws the USA PATRIOT Act amended are immigration
laws and banking and money laundering laws. It also amends
the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
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the Patriot Act
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