that it links terrorist offenses to the predicate offense list for RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations). In essence, this Act represents what Levy (2003) characterizes as a significant shift in public policy that has shaped the justice system in the United States.
The PATRIOT Act contains more than 150 sections divided into 10 separate Titles. The scope of the Act is both broad and deep, making it one of the most wide-ranging laws passed by Congress in recent memory (Michaels & Van Bergen, 2002). It has created what Michaels and Van Bergen (2002) consider to be a unique opportunity for government to involve itself in the private affairs of citizens and no-citizens alike, ignoring the provisions of the various Amendments to the U.S. Constitution found in the Bill of Rights.
Attached as an appendix to this report is a summary of the key provisions of the Act as identified by Michaels and Van Bergen (2002). Taken together, these provisions highlight several themes implicit in the Act:
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