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During the semester, I shall post course material and students will comment on it. Students are also free to comment on any aspect of American politics, either current or historical. There are only two major limitations: no coarse language, and no derogatory comments about people at the Claremont Colleges. This blog is on the open Internet, so post nothing that you would not want a potential employer to see. Syllabus: http://gov20h.blogspot.com/2023/08/draft-introduction-to-american-politics.html

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Justice Act vs. Patriot Act

Re: Our discussion of the laws being passed by Congress without being read, and divisions between the Legislative and Executive branches...

Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) and several others have introduced the Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools in Counterterrorism Efforts Act, also known as the JUSTICE Act, with the intention of reforming the Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (i.e. the PATRIOT Act).

This is partially in response to the three sections of the PATRIOT Act which will expire at the end of this year. On Tuesday, the Justice Department did send a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) in which it stated that the department was in favor of renewing the expiring sections, but was also "willing to consider" some modifications to the Act.

It looks like these Acts will be getting some attention this time. Especially since Obama's stance is at odds with his own party.

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