Our nation, over the course of time, has been a prime target for foreign as well as domestic terrorist threats and attacks. As a result of these despicable actions new laws and acts have emerged with a pugnacious orientation. This paper highlights The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, and the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001. Understanding the aspects that form these Acts will broaden the understanding of the results enforced by them. Our national security is imperative for the American population to prosper.
Effective October 25, 1978, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance act of 1978 or FISA was the result of congressional investigations into federal surveillance activities conducted on behalf of national security. By this act, in order to actively monitor national security threats, Congress desired to approve legalistic and congressional oversight of foreign intelligence surveillance activities. Subsequently, electronic surveillance and the ability to physically locate individuals related to espionage or international terrorism affecting the US was also stipulated. In addition, as the statute describes there may be engagement in applying surveillance to the American population if the court dictates that there is a probable cause, meaning a relation with foreign powers. Many Americans may see this as something wrong and maybe even invasive to the personal life, and although I think it is, this act is about security. Opening up and having some vulnerability may ultimately yield a positive result for our own security.
Efforts transcending back for more than a decade and being highly supported by the World Trade Center amongst other attacks is the legislative result of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. This act is defined with the intention to deter terrorism, provide