The Patriot Act allows the US Government(Executive Branch):
>to search and seize Americans' papers and effects without probable cause to assist terror investigation.
>to investigate religious and political institutions without suspecting criminal activity.
>to monitor conversations between attorneys and clients in federal prisons and deny lawyers to Americans accused of crimes.
>to prosecute librarians or keepers of any other records if they tell anyone the government subpoenaed information related to a terror investigation.
>to jail Americans without being charged or being able to confront witnesses against them. US citizens (labeled "unlawful combatants") have been held incommunicado and refused attorneys.