The Post-9/11 Legal Basis for Homeland Security Initiatives

Introduction

“The Post-9/11 Legal Basis for Homeland Security Initiatives”

Purpose

To provide information on the post-9/11 legal basis for implementing current Homeland Security initiative

Background

After the horrifying terrorist attacks that shook the entire nation of USA on September 11 against key US assets, the Congress passed several acts that defined terrorism and established the legal basis for future Homeland Security initiatives. Although there are many acts that address various aspects of Homeland Security, there are specifically four acts that have formed the foundation for future Homeland Security initiatives. These are the:

USA PATRIOT Act of 2001

Homeland Security Act of 2002 as amended by the implementing recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007

Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004

Commission Act of 2007

USA PATRIOT Act of 2001

This was the first Homeland Security-related act passed by Congress after the various horrifying terrorist attacks over the citizens of USA. The specific focus of this act is on terrorism and providing new tools for law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, and prosecute acts of terrorism. Particularly noteworthy is the inclusion of the act which provides details regarding the crucial frameworks related to the protection of the citizens of USA. Other key tenets of this act include:

This act went on to lay the definition of domestic terrorism, as it described any person with a clear intention of harming another human life within the boundaries of USA or committing any other forms of violence activities will fall under the category of domestic violence.

The main objective of this act is to reinforce domestic security and expand the authorities of law-enforcement agencies in relation to classifying and discontinuing terrorists.

The endorsement and renewal of the Patriot act has been exceedingly contentious. Individuals in favor of this act assert that it is been influential in several arrests and investigations of terrorists, whilst opponents counteract the act provides the government too much authority, intimidates national autonomies and weakens the very democratic system it finds to safeguard.

This act works on the premise that in countenance of terrorist hazards, citizens of the USA should balance security and freedom. The corresponding act is merely effective if the initiatives taken to enhance security essentially achieve that objective. Through a chief initiative, it could be squabbled that this act has been effective. The evidence is that there has not been a major terrorist attack on territory of the USA as this act was ...