I was wondering how long did it take to do that.. was it pre-planned.. (since I forgot when it was proposed and passed) so I decided to check it out and found this introduction of the Act (more on the flip)
The clumsily-titled Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act, or USAPA) introduced a plethora of legislative changes which significantly increased the surveillance and investigative powers of law enforcement agencies in the United States. The Act did not, however, provide for the system of checks and balances that traditionally safeguards civil liberties in the face of such legislation.
Legislative proposals in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were introduced less than a week after the attacks. President Bush signed the final bill, the USA PATRIOT Act, into law on October 26, 2001. Though the Act made significant amendments to over 15 important statutes, it was introduced with great haste and passed with little debate, and without a House, Senate, or conference report. As a result, it lacks background legislative history that often retrospectively provides necessary statutory interpretation.
(you see the first paragraph about checks and balances hmm!)
This is from EPIC site: http://www.epic.org/...
Please read the introduction and History because it show that the congress were told to pass it within one week under pressure by AG Ashcroft without changes. Thank goodness for Daschle that there were changes before signed into law.
But shame on Bush for going around FISA.
Now there is FOIA request to FBI on this Act;
http://www.epic.org/...
check them out..