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The Patriot Act

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The Patriot Act
11-10-08
ENG101:423
Argumentative Research Paper

The Patriot Act

12-10-08
Eng101:423
Argumentative Essay

The Patriot Act

America is based on two things: Blood and the Constitution. America is currently at war, fighting for our freedom. But what use is that if our Constitution, the very thing that grants us freedom, is no longer valid? Only five weeks after the September 11 attacks congress passed an act granting greater judicial power to information gathering agencies. The Patriot act, passed October 26 2001(New York Times), strips americans of their basic human rights as defined by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution is the foundation of American Law. It grants certain rights to the american people. The same men wrote the constitution who wrote the Declaration of Independence which states that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights”(Declaration of Independence). To their Bill of Rights they added: freedom from unreasonable searches, right to speedy and public trial, freedom of association, right of legal representation, and a right to liberty(Constitution). They didn 't base the entire Ideology of the free world on these things for no reason. And the Patriot act has completely destroyed the rights which were promised to us. Without these basic rights, our “freedom” is feigned.
The Patriot Act expands power to information gathering agencies such as the FBI. Under it 's power they can search any american and seize papers and possessions without a warrant(Concerned Citizens Against the Patriot Act). Amendment IV of the Bill of Rights states that americans are protected by law against “unreasonable search and seizures” and from the confiscation of our “papers, and effects”(Constitution). An FBI agent or even police officer could enter your house, and upon saying that it 's for terrorist prevention his search becomes lawful. Is this freedom?
Many


Cited: Concerned Citizens Against the Patriot Act. http://www.scn.org/ccapa/pa-vs-const.html Lichtblau, Eric. New York Times, 2008 Messerve, Jeanne. CNN. October 22, 2008 United States Bill of Rights (1789) United States Constitution(1787) United States Declaration of Independence (1776) United States Patriot Act, sec 101. Counterterrorism Fund (2001)
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