Legal rights

Some of the fundamental changes to Americans’ legal rights by the Bush administration and the USA Patriot Act after the terrorist attacks:

Freedom of association: Government may monitor religious and political institutions without suspecting criminal activity to assist terror investigation.

Freedom of information: Government has closed once-public immigration hearings, has secretly detained hundreds of people without charges, and has encouraged bureaucrats to resist public records requests.

Freedom of speech: Government may prosecute librarians or keepers of any other records if they tell anyone that the government subpoenaed information related to a terrorist investigation.

Right of legal representation: Government may monitor federal prison jailhouse conversations between attorneys and clients, and deny lawyers to Americans accused of crimes.

Freedom from unreasonable searches: Government may search and seize Americans’ papers and effects without probable cause to assist terrorist investigation.

Right to a speedy and public trial: Government may jail Americans indefinitely without a trial.

Right to liberty: Americans may be jailed without being charged or being able to confront witnesses against them.