For my research paper I decided to focus on the Patriot Act. I chose this topic because it is arguably one of the most important and controversial pieces of legislation so far in our lives, and I think that as a student and citizen I am responsible for analyzing governmental activity that has the potential to impact my life. After the September 11 terrorist attacks and the passage of the Patriot Act a wave of misleading information was circulated, and to this day I find that many people, including myself, do not have a clear view of what the Patriot Act involves and what it was made for, so I chose this topic as a tool to educate myself and develop a coherent and supportable opinion.
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The controversy surrounding the Patriot Act deals with its relevance and necessity, as well as some of the 'new' allowances it provides the federal government in an attempt to counter the recent terrorist threat after September 11.
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My research question will be, "Does the Patriot Act provide protection against the terrorist threat that is reasonable, or does it strip Americans of civil liberties?" In order to develop a well-rounded argument I hope to look at arguments from both 'sides,' look at arguments presented by both governmental and civilan watch group officials, and compare the Patriot Act to past legislation.
