1. THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act 2001
For detailed information about the legislative process, visit How Laws are Made by John V. Sullivan, Parliamentarian, House of Representatives

2. HISTORICAL CONTEXT
On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. These acts created a political climate in which the George W. Bush Administration and Congress quickly sought to investigate and punish those responsible and propose legislation that would prevent future attacks.

3. HISTORICAL CONTEXT Discussion Questions:
If you were a member of Congress in 2001, how would you have responded to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon?
What power(s) does the Constitution give Congress regarding national security threats?
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Video Clip – 5 minutes

4. HISTORICAL CONTEXT Discussion Questions:
What do you think constitutes a “heinous” or atrocious act?
What do you think are some of the most heinous acts in world history?
Do you agree with Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s assessment that the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon are one of the “most heinous acts” in world history? Explain your answer.
Would you consider these attacks an act of war? Why or why not? If so, who is the war against?
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Video Clip – 1 minute

5. HISTORICAL CONTEXT Discussion Questions:
Why did President George W. Bush refer to the party responsible for the 9/11 attacks as a “faceless coward”?
What constitutional powers did President Bush use to do “whatever [was] necessary to protect America and Americans”?
What role did the President’s cabinet play in executing domestic and foreign policy?
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Video Clip – 2 minutes

6. HISTORICAL CONTEXT Discussion Questions: Define bipartisanship.
How was this gathering of Congress an example of bipartisanship?
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Video Clip – 3 minutes

7. PROPOSING LEGISLATION
Discussion Questions:
Although only members of the House and the Senate can introduce legislation, who can propose legislation to Congress?
Which federal department proposed anti-terrorism legislation to Congress?
Define civil liberties. List examples.
Are you willing to give up individual liberties in the interest of public safety?
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Video Clip – 3 minutes

8. PROPOSING LEGISLATION
Discussion Questions:
What is the purpose of a standing committee?
Why is the Attorney General proposing anti-terrorism legislation to the House Judiciary Committee?
Why does Representative Sensenbrenner consider the anti-terrorism legislation proposal bipartisan?
How does Representative Sensenbrenner view the anti-terrorism legislation proposal?
Why does Representative Sensenbrenner share the plan for hearing testimonies?
Why do the participants take an oath before providing testimony to the committee?
Using the video content, describe a power(s) used by the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
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Video Clip – 6 minutes

9. PROPOSING LEGISLATION
Discussion Questions:
How did Attorney General Ashcroft define the new threat of terrorism?
Why do you think Attorney General Ashcroft emphasized the importance of preserving civil liberties in his testimony?
What were the two problems Attorney General Ashcroft saw with the current statutes?
What were the five objectives Attorney General Ashcroft addressed in the anti-terrorism legislation proposal?
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Video Clip – 12 minutes

10. PROPOSING LEGISLATION
Discussion Questions:
Why did the Attorney General propose anti-terrorism legislation to the Senate Judiciary Committee?
What is a “sunset” provision in legislation?
Why did Senator Feinstein want to put a “sunset” provision on certain sections of the anti-terrorism legislation?
What was Attorney General Ashcroft’s response to the senator’s suggestion?
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Video Clip – 3 minutes

11. PROPOSING LEGISLATION
Discussion Questions:
How did Attorney General Ashcroft propose to detain suspected terrorists?
Why did Attorney General Ashcroft suggest clarification on this section of the proposal?
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Video Clip – 3 minutes

12. INTRODUCTION Discussion Questions:
Describe the major actions taken by both houses of Congress on the USA PATRIOT bill up to the introduction of HR 3162.
HR 2975 (Original version of anti-terrorism legislation introduced in the House)
S 1510 (Original version of anti-terrorism legislation introduced in the Senate)
What compromises were made between the House and Senate to draft HR 3162?
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Video Clip – 4 minutes

13. COMMITTEE ACTION
Visit the link to HR on Thomas to determine which House committees the bill was referred. Then click on “All Congressional Actions.”
Why do you think the bill was referred to each of these committees?

14. FLOOR ACTION IN THE HOUSE
Discussion Question:
Why did Representative LaHood vote in favor of the new bill?
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Video Clip – 1 minute

15. FLOOR ACTION IN THE HOUSE
Discussion Questions:
What is the role of the House Committee on Rules?
What is meant by “closed rule’?
Why was Representative Frank disappointed in the legislative procedures established for the USA PATRIOT Act?
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Video Clip – 3 minutes

16. FLOOR ACTION IN THE HOUSE
Discussion Questions:
Why did Representative Sensenbrenner think the new bill was stronger than the original?
Why did Representative Sensenbrenner think a conference committee was not necessary?
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Video Clip – 6 minutes

17. Click here for footage Video Clip – 1 minute
VOTING IN THE HOUSE
Click here for footage Video Clip – 1 minute
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Video Clip – 30 seconds
Discussion Question:
Describe the voting process in the House.
Discussion Question:
If the bill passes in the House, what is the next step?

18. FLOOR ACTION IN THE SENATE
Discussion Question:
What were Senator Feingold’s objections to the bill?
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Video Clip – 12 minutes

19. FLOOR ACTION IN THE SENATE
Discussion Questions:
What were Senator Hatch’s rebuttals to Senator Feingold’s objections?
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Video Clip – 8 minutes

20. VOTING IN THE SENATE Click here for footage Video Clip – 40 seconds
Video Clip – 1 minute
Discussion Question:
How is voting in the Senate different than the House?
Discussion Question:
What happens after the same bill passes both the House and Senate without any changes?

21. PRESIDENT SIGNS THE BILL INTO LAW
Discussion Questions:
What happens after the President signs a bill into a law?
How does this step in the legislative process show the system of checks and balances?
How could the third branch of government check this law?
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Video Clip – 12 minutes

22. TRACING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Now that students have experienced the legislative process, they will research a specific bill and explain how it became a law.
Access the Tracing the Legislative Process lesson plan and have your students complete the procedure and culminating activity using C-SPAN’s resources.