"There is no doubt that if we lived in a police state, it would be easier to catch terrorists. If we lived in a country where the police could search any home at any time, for any reason; if we lived in a country where the government could monitor our communications without judicial oversight... we would have a very secure country. But it would not be a free country. And it would not be America. ... [W]e must maintain our vigil against terrorism, but we must also maintain our vigil against the erosion of the very liberties that make us Americans."
— Senator Russ Feingold, speech on the Senate floor, October 2001
Which of the following debates from the post-9/11 era is most directly addressed by the Senator in this excerpt?
- The tension between expanding federal law enforcement power for security and protecting constitutional civil liberties.Answer
- BThe strategic transition toward preemptive military operations against non-state targets in international conflicts.
- CThe reemergence of an isolationist diplomatic posture to avoid entanglements in foreign wars.
- DThe enforcement of congressional oversight on executive troop deployments under the War Powers Resolution.
Answer
The tension between expanding federal law enforcement power for security and protecting constitutional civil liberties.
The correct option is correct because the excerpt directly discusses the trade-off between security measures (like police searches and communication monitoring without judicial oversight) and civil liberties, which was the central debate surrounding the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The War on Terror led to domestic debates over the balance between national security and civil liberties, notably surrounding legislation like the USA PATRIOT Act.
Estimated Time:1m 0s