Opinion ID: 619929
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Statutory Background and Structure

Text: FISA, as originally enacted in 1978, empowered the Chief Justice of the United States to establish a special court (now known as the FISA court), staffed by district court judges, with jurisdiction to hear applications for and grant orders approving electronic surveillance related to foreign intelligence. 50 U.S.C. § 1803. As relevant here, [FISA] authorizes a judge on the FISA court to grant an application for an order approving electronic surveillance to obtain foreign intelligence information if there is probable cause to believe that ... the target of the electronic surveillance is a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power, and that each of the facilities or places at which the surveillance is directed is being used, or is about to be used, by a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power. In re Sealed Case, 310 F.3d 717, 722 (Foreign Intel.Surv.Ct.Rev.2002) (per curiam) (quoting 50 U.S.C. § 1805(a)(3)). Among other things, the statute defines a foreign power as a group engaged in international terrorism or activities in preparation therefor, 50 U.S.C. § 1801(a)(4), and an agent of a foreign power as (a) a non-United States person (i.e., non-U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) who engages in international terrorism or activities in preparation therefore [ sic ], id. § 1801(b)(1)(C); see also id. § 1801(i) (defining United States person), or (b) any person who knowingly engages in sabotage or international terrorism, or activities that are in preparation therefor, for or on behalf of a foreign power, id. § 1801(b)(2)(C), (i). [6] The relevant provision in this case, 50 U.S.C. § 1804, sets forth the elements of an application for [such] an order. Sealed Case, 310 F.3d at 723. The original version of § 1804 required a national security official in the Executive Branchtypically the Director of the FBIto certify that `the purpose' of the surveillance is to obtain foreign intelligence information. Id. (quoting former 50 U.S.C. § 1804(a)(7)(B)). In 2001, as part of the Patriot Act, Congress revised that requirement so that it now requires the official to certify that a significant purpose of the surveillance is to obtain foreign intelligence information. 50 U.S.C. § 1804(a)(6)(B) (emphasis added).