USA Patriot Act
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Search and analyze the text from the USA Patriot Act (Public Law 107-56). 

Passed after the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks, the Act expands the authority of U.S. law enforcement for the stated purpose of fighting terrorist acts in the United States and abroad. This expanded legal authority is also used to detect and prosecute other alleged potential crimes. Among its provisions, the USA PATRIOT Act amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). We've imported the complete legislative text into a searchable askSam database file.

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More About The Patriot Act:

• The Act was signed by President Bush on October 26, 2001. 
• The long title of the act is "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001".
• The Patriot Act was introduced Rep. James Sensenbrenner, Wisconsin on October 23, 2001.
• For more information see Wikipedia: USA Patriot Act.

Sunset provision

Under section 224, several of the surveillance portions (200-level sections) of the Act will expire on December 31, 2005. On July 21, 2005, the US House of Representatives passed HR3199, the USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005, which removes certain sunset clauses entirely rather than renewing them or allowing them to be enacted. 

On December 16, 2005 the U.S. Senate refused to end debate on legislation to renew the act. The Senate fell seven votes short of invoking cloture on the matter, leaving the future of the Patriot Act in doubt.

Provisions that will expire

• §201. Authority To Intercept Wire, Oral, And Electronic Communications Relating To Terrorism.
• §202. Authority To Intercept Wire, Oral, And Electronic Communications Relating To Computer Fraud And Abuse Offenses.
• §203(b), (d). Authority To Share Criminal Investigative Information.
• §206. Roving Surveillance Authority Under The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Of 1978.
• §207. Duration Of FISA Surveillance Of Non-United States Persons Who Are Agents Of A Foreign Power.
• §209. Seizure Of Voice-Mail Messages Pursuant To Warrants.
• §212. Emergency Disclosure Of Electronic Communications To Protect Life And Limb.
• §214. Pen Register And Trap And Trace Authority Under FISA.
• §215. Access To Records And Other Items Under FISA.
• §217. Interception Of Computer Trespasser Communications.
• §218. Foreign Intelligence Information. (Lowers standard of evidence for FISA warrants.)
• §220. Nationwide Service Of Search Warrants For Electronic Evidence.
• §223. Civil Liability For Certain Unauthorized Disclosures.
• §224. Sunset. (self-canceling)
• §225. Immunity For Compliance With FISA Wiretap.