Stuff YOU Should Know
USA PATRIOT Act Debate
Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act. This law expanded the authority of federal law enforcement in order to better identify and stop terrorist acts. There are provisions (or sections, called Titles) that deal with different areas of homeland security. The name USA PATRIOT Act is an acronym that stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. It is more commonly known as just the Patriot Act.
In the years since its implementation, the Patriot Act has become subject to much debate. Those in favor say that it has played a crucial role in successfully detaining and deterring potential acts of terrorism. Those opposed believe the law infringes too deeply on the civil liberties of the American people. One criticism is that the bill was created and passed very quickly, despite its complexity, leaving many to believe it was not properly debated or deliberated.
The original bill was subject to “sunset provisions,” meaning that the laws would require reauthorization by Congress and if it didn’t receive approval, the provisions would expire. In 2011, three of the ten original provisions were reauthorized. Last month, Congress met for a vote to authorize them again which failed to pass. In the final days of May, Congress first failed to reauthorize the original legislation and second passed a new bill called the USA Freedom Act.
In between the sunsetting of of those provisions of the Patriot Act and the authorization of the Freedom Act, the NSA bulk collection of cell phone records was briefly halted. It was this provision, as much as any other, that caused so much of the debate over the Patriot Act’s reauthorization. The Freedom Act, however, does not eliminate the government’s authority to monitor the general public, a subject that gained attention in 2013 via former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
What Do You Think? Do some additional research to learn more about the USA Freedom Act. Decide if you approve or disapprove of the measures of this legislation. Explain your answer.
More 2016 Candidates Announced
As candidates for the 2016 presidential race have announced their bids, btw and Election Central have been bringing you updates. The most recent hopefuls include Rick Santorum and George Pataki. (Learn more about Santorum and Pataki, along with the other Republicans and Democrats gearing up for 2016 at the two Election Central posts.)
Voting booths in polling place. Photo: Hill Street Studios/Blend Images LLC/Glow Images
Santorum was a Republican Party candidate during the 2012 election. In 1990, he was considered a long-shot candidate when he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district. As a freshman congressman, Santorum became part of the “Gang of Seven,” a group of Republican lawmakers who gained the reputation of being aggressive on fighting corruption in the House.
Pataki was the Republican governor of the state of New York for three terms. Unlike Santorum, Pataki is positioning himself as a moderate choice in a field of very conservative opponents. For example, he supports same-sex marriage, environmental regulation, and legalized abortion. However, he maintains a conservative stance when it comes to fiscal matters, however, advocating for a reduction in the size of national spending.
(And, in the last few days more have entered the race. Martin O’Malley and Lincoln Chafee have added their names to the Democratic side of the content. Lindsay Graham and Rick Perry have also added their names to the ever growing mix of Republican candidates. Election Central will update with more information on those new candidates . . . and whomever else decided to join in on the fun next week.)
Dig Deeper Create a chart of all of the 2016 candidates who have officially announced their bid for the presidency. Pay particular attention to any details that distinguish the candidates from members of their own party.
Scandal in the Soccer World
Last summer, btw brought you a story highlighting the basics of the World Cup soccer tournaments, held every four years. Last month the governing body of the World Cup, the International Federation of Association Football (which, when translated into French and presented as an acronym is . . . FIFA), was subject to two criminal investigations of corruption, dating back to 1991 and adding up to more than $150 million. Fourteen people have been indicted on counts of bribery, wire fraud, racketeering, and money laundering (crimes involving covering up money obtained illegally). Those arrested included FIFA officials and five corporate executives.
The World Cup is currently considered the most lucrative sporting event, earning more revenue than the Olympics. The alleged bribes were used to influence sponsorship rights, including television and outfitting of the teams. In response, FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, accused the United States of launching the United States of launching the investigation in reaction to losing the bid to become the host country for the 2022 World Cup. Just a few days ago, Blatter announced his own retirement as FIFA president. There is a third and separate federal investigation led by the Swiss into additional corruption into the 2018 and 2022 bidding contests.