define usa patriot act
USA PATRIOT Act of 2001. The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 is a 342-page, sprawling piece of legislation that contains more than 150 sections and amends more than 15 federal laws. The law's full name is the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, hence the acronym USA PATRIOT Act. It deals primarily with combating Terrorism and gives the Executive Branch of the federal government more tools to fight suspected terrorist activity, but it also aroused the anger of civil libertarians.