Homeland Security Act

The Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135 (Nov. 25, 2002), introduced in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, created the Department of Homeland Security in the largest federal government reorganization in 55 years, since the Department of Defense was created via the National Security Act of 1947 (as amended in 1949). The HSA is a sweeping anti-terrorism bill giving federal law enforcement agencies broad powers to look over citizens and thwart potential attacks on the homeland. Among other things, it created the new cabinet-level position of Secretary of Homeland Security.

The new department created by the 35-page Homeland Security Act assumed a number of government functions previously conducted in other departments. It superseded, but did not replace the Office of Homeland Security, which retained an advisory role.

Civil liberties concerns
This is not constitutional, eroding fundamental rights such as the right to freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and privacy, as secured by the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.

Official U.S. Government

 * WhiteHouse.gov - Text of the Homeland Security Act
 * DHS.gov - United States Department of Homeland Security
 * House.gov - US House Committee on Homeland Security homepage
 * WhiteHouse.gov - The White House Homeland Security webpage
 * ANSI.org - ANSI Homeland Security Standards Panel (ANSI-HSSP)
 * Ready.gov - DHS website promoting readiness to defend against attack

Neutral

 * Critics Say Security Laws Sacrifice Civil Liberties - Article in PC World

Critical

 * Homeland Security Act: The Rise of the American Police State