http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/civil-liberties Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:01:03 -0400 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:01:03 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/709/diverging-discontent-examining-the-patriot-acts-passage-in-congress-under-the-bush-administration By Alexander E. Hopkins - On October 26, 2001, President George W. Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Act, by Congress just six weeks after the attacks with virtually no public debate, greatly-expanded the executive branch’s power to investigate possible domestic terrorism (Cheney, 2005, p. 1717; Chang, 2001). Rather than create new laws, existing laws were strengthened. However, members of Congress were still alarmed at possible civil liberties violations (Cheney, 2005, p. 1717; Seamon & Gardner, 2005, p. 321). Like many war-time Presidents, such as Woodrow... Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:24 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/709/diverging-discontent-examining-the-patriot-acts-passage-in-congress-under-the-bush-administration