Read ACLU's Reform the Patriot Act Blog, or go here to read how you can help urge Congress to fix the Patriot Act.

Just 45 days after the September 11, 2001, attacks, with virtually no debate, the U.S. Congress passed the Patriot Act. Many sections of this sweeping law need proper checks and balances to protect our constitutional freedoms. Unfortunately, the chance to do that may be lost forever when Congress votes in the coming days on whether to make permanent and expand the Patriot Act.

Under this sweeping legislation, the government can �?�

1. Search your home and not even tell you. The USA Patriot Act expands law enforcement�??s ability to conduct secret �??sneak and peek�?� searches of your home. Investigators can enter your home or office, take pictures and seize items without informing you that a warrant was issued, for an indefinite period of time. (SECTION 213)
2. Collect information about what books you read, what you study, your purchases and your medical history. The USA Patriot Act gives law enforcement broad access to any types of records �?? medical, financial, gun, library, educational, sales, etc. �?? without probable cause of a crime. It also prohibits the holders of this information, like librarians, from disclosing that they have produced such records, under threat of imprisonment. The court orders are issued by a secret intelligence court in Washington and judges have little power to deny applications. (SECTION 215)
3. Seize a wide variety of business and financial records, and in certain instances access the membership lists of organizations that provide even very limited Internet services (message boards on your church website for instance) using �??national security letters,�?� or NSLs, which are issued at the sole discretion of the Justice Department. The Patriot Act expanded access to these NSLs, which also impose a blanket gag order on recipients and are not subject to judicial review. (SECTION 505)
4. Read parts of your emails and monitor what you look at online.  The Patriot Act lets the government get records that could show the subject lines of your e-mails and details about your Web surfing habits (like your recent research on Google), all without probable cause. (SECTION 216)

Help stop the abuse of power! Come to ACLU's Membership Conference
It's time to stand up against the government's flagrant abuses of power. Join the ACLU to Stand Up for Freedom and Stop the Abuse of Power - at our national Membership Conference in Washington, DC. Read More...

FROM THE LIBERTY BLOG: No, Virginia, it's not the sunset clause
"NOTE:  This ACLU of Texas Liberty Blog entry is cross-posted from national ACLU's "Reform the Patriot Act" blog post of December 9th, written by Senior Legislative Counsel Lisa Graves..."

ACLU Coalition Wins Major Victory Over Federal Government
ACLU and a diverse coalition of national nonprofits win a major victory in challenge to misguided CFC Government Watch List and Contribution Policies. Read More...

National security letters harm rights, undermine judges
Since 9/11, the federal government each year has issued more than 30,000 "national security letters" demanding business and personal records without a judge's approval, all under authority from the Patriot Act. Read More...

Four Texas cities pass resolutions opposed to the Patriot Act
Resolutions have been passed in 4 communities in Texas, and 385 more nationwide. These communities represent approximately 62 million people who oppose sections of the USA PATRIOT Act. Read More...