


cheneys law

Student Handout

What To Do? -- Scenario B -- Domestic Surveillance



Scenario B -- Domestic Surveillance

In the effort to thwart another attack at home, it is necessary to gather intelligence information from many different sources. The National Security Agency secretly has been authorized by the president to conduct eavesdropping inside the United States without a court warrant. Since 1978 the process of obtaining information has been overseen by a special security court, known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, or the FISA Court, which quickly grants warrants for domestic surveillance. But in 2002, Justice Department attorneys wrote official legal opinions justifying the NSA eavesdropping program, contending that the Constitution gives the president expanded powers in wartime to order warrantless surveillance and arguing that the administration didn't have to go through the FISA Court. When they became public in 2005, these actions raised concerns about potential violations of the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Executive Branch Role:



Congressional Role:



Questions to consider for discussion within your group:

Procedure for meeting with the other branch of government: