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Case of the Month January 2002
Balancing Security and Civil Liberties
In order to help bring a better understanding of the Bill of Rights in action, the ACLU of Florida website posts a Case of the Month. Each month, we highlight either a current case before the courts or current issues that affect civil liberties. In discussing the case, we hope to offer extensive learning materials, including lesson plans, teacher handouts, and balanced information on key legal issues, the attorneys, plaintiffs and defendants involved in the case, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) that may be of help to teachers and students alike.
For January, we have selected an issue that has become one of the top priorities for our nation's leaders ever since the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11: balancing security and American freedom.
A new chapter in American history was written on Sept. 11, 2001 when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon, wreaking death and destruction on thousands of innocent people. The attack not only targeted personal lives and property, it was also an attack on the freedom and equality that are the hallmarks of our democracy. Left to grieve and rebuild, most Americans are now wondering: "Where do we go from here?"
The following information addresses the importance of balancing national security and civil liberties, focusing specifically on the civil liberties implications of the USA PATRIOT ACT, which was encated by Congress in late October 2001.
- Overview
- Legal Issues
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Lesson Plans
- Read the USA PATRIOT ACT
- ACLU Fact sheet on the USA PATRIOT ACT
Special thanks to volunteer intern Kabi Jorgensen for preparing the January 2002 Case of the Month.
