The Patriot Act has brought a lot of controversy, on whether it is constitutional or unconstitutional. The Patriot Act was made for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance, or in other words, anyone who is involved or is suspected of terrorist acts, or money laundering. According to the Patriot Act, FISA, or any law enforcement officer, can conduct surveillance, wiretaps, searches, obtain business records, etc. They can do any of these things without the "certification" from a court or Attorney General. They do not have to prove probable cause in order to obtain a warrant. They do not have to provide any public information, just a few annual reports showing the number of people being watched, and other minor details. Under the Patriot Act, the authorities can search your home without a warrant, at any time. They can even search your home for 45 days after a judicial finding, proving probable cause. They can obtain information, without permission from a court, on your travel, automobile, or business matters.
             Some believe that the Patriot Act is unconstitutional because rights are being violated. They fear the way that the Domestic Law Enforcement Act will be affected. Under the Domestic Law Enforcement Act, you have to prove probable cause before you can search someone's home, conduct a surveillance, wiretap, or obtain any record. You have to go before a judge to obtain "certification". Some argue that under the Patriot Act, you can be targeted, without probable cause, and subjected to having your rights violated in the process. They argue that law enforcement will abuse this power given to them by the Act. For example, the rights of two stockbrokers were violated because some law enforcement agents used the Patriot Act to subpoena the broker for evidence against a strip club owner. The case pertained to public official corruption. Even though the club owner pled guilty to charges brought against hi...