Civil liberties.The League strongly believes that basic civil liberties must be preserved and protected as the nation seeks to guard against terrorism and other threats to national security. Of particular concern are the impact of provisions of the 2001 USA Patriot Act USA PATRIOT Act [Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorists], 2001, U.S. , possible changes to the protective sunset provisions A statutory provision providing that a particular agency, benefit, or law will expire on a particular date, unless it is reauthorized by the legislature. Federal and state governments grew dramatically in the 1950s and 1960s. of that Act, and Administration proposals for a new Domestic Security Enhancement Act (DSEA DSEA Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003 (proposed US legislation) DSEA Delaware State Education Association DSEA Display Station Emulation Adapter DSEA Domino Signal Encryption Algorithm DSEA Data Station Emulation Adapter ), also known as Patriot Act Patriot Act: see USA PATRIOT Act. II. The USA Patriot Act contains sunset provisions that limit certain parts of the Act to five years duration, giving Congress and the country time to assess the impact of the Act on individual rights. The League opposes any congressional efforts to eliminate these sunset provisions. The League is concerned that the proposed DSEA might incorporate and expand on some of the most controversial and threatening aspects of the USA Patriot Act by including an overly broad definition of terrorism Few words are as politically or emotionally charged as terrorism. A 1988 study by the US Army[1] counted 109 definitions of terrorism that covered a total of 22 different definitional elements. ; authorizing government officials to obtain data (financial records and library records) without a warrant or involvement of courts; providing for indefinite INDEFINITE. That which is undefined; uncertain. INDEFINITE, NUMBER. A number which may be increased or diminished at pleasure. 2. When a corporation is composed of an indefinite number of persons, any number of them consisting of a majority of those detention of individuals, including American citizens, without disclosure of names or filing charges; and ending existing court-imposed limits on law enforcement spying on political and religious organizations. What You Can Do: Contact your Senators and Representatives and ask them to oppose any efforts to eliminate the sunset provisions of the USA Patriot Act as well as any DSEA proposals that would expand threats to our civil liberties. |
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