Title: History of the Patriot Act - Wikipedia
Headings: History of the Patriot Act
History of the Patriot Act
Contents
Background
September 11, 2001 terrorist attack
First bills introduced
Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act
Birth of the USA PATRIOT Act
Opposition grows
Security and Freedom Ensured Act
Judicial and legislative challenges
Lead up to reauthorization
Reauthorization legislative history
Judges strike key provisions
References
Further reading
External links
Government sources
Supportive views
Critical views

Content: 1)
Signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001
The history of the USA PATRIOT Act involved many parties who opposed and supported the legislation, which was proposed, enacted and signed into law 45 days after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. The USA PATRIOT Act, though approved by large majorities in the U.S. Senate and House of Representative, was controversial, and parts of the law were invalidated or modified by successful legal challenges over constitutional infringements to civil liberties. The Act had several sunset provisions, most reauthorized by the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and the USA PATRIOT Act Additional Reauthorizing Amendments Act. Both reauthorizations incorporated amendments to the original USA PATRIOT Act, and other federal laws. The catalyst for the USA PATRIOT Act occurred on September 11, 2001 when terrorists attacked and destroyed the World Trade Center in New York City and the western side of the Pentagon near Washington D.C. Within a few weeks of the September 11 attacks, a number of bills attempting to make changes to anti-terrorism laws were introduced into Congress. After the USA PATRIOT Act was passed it remained controversial, and began to be questioned by some members of Congress. A number of sections were struck by the courts. Some provisions were challenged by the ACLU, who filed a lawsuit on April 9, 2004. In April 2005, a Senate Judicial Hearing on the Patriot Act was held. The Act was as controversial as ever, and more than a few groups were campaigning against it.