Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Renewed

摘要

Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution calls on the president-and through the president, the executive branch-to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." These few simple words are embodied in the presidential oath of office, and similar language is in the oaths taken by members of the military and by members of the FBI, CIA, and other investigative bodies. They underlie more than 70 years of electronic data-gathering by various agents and agencies. Much of this investigation has been necessary and appropriate and has stopped or resulted in the capture of a number of both foreign and domestic terrorists. However, there is also a regretful history of investigations that have targeted foreign and domestic individuals more for their political or social views than for any particularized terrorism or security threat.