Civil Liberties

Gallup's Pulse of Democracy

The Patriot Act and Civil Liberties

As you may know, the Bush administration has been wiretapping telephone conversations between U.S. citizens living in the United States and suspected terrorists living in other countries without getting a court order allowing it to do so. Do you think the Bush administration was right or wrong in wiretapping these conversations without obtaining a court order?

As you may know, in the U.S. legal system the government is required to show defendants the evidence it has against them. In some terrorism trials, the government believes that showing defendants certain evidence may put American lives in danger. In your view, which would be worse - [ROTATED: convicting defendants of terrorism based on evidence they are never shown, (or) having some terrorism suspects go free because the government chooses to withhold evidence rather than show it to the defendant]?

When interrogating prisoners, members of the U.S. military are required to abide by the Geneva Convention standards which prohibit the humiliating and degrading treatment of prisoners. When the CIA or Central Intelligence Agency questions suspects whom they believe to have information aboutpossible terror plots against the United States, do you think - [ROTATED: they should have to abide by the same Geneva Convention standards that apply to the U.S. military (or) they should be able to use more forceful interrogation techniques than the Geneva Convention standards that apply to the U.S. military]?

Do you think the Bush administration -- [ROTATED: has gone too far, has been about right, or has not gone far enough] -- in restricting people's civil liberties in order to fight terrorism]?

As you may know, as part of its efforts to investigate terrorism, a federal government agency obtained records from three of the largest U.S. telephone companies in order to create a database of billions of telephone numbers dialed by Americans. How closely have you been following the news about this -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?

Based on what you have heard or read about this program to collect phone records, would you say you approve or disapprove of this government program?

Is that mainly because - [ROTATED: you do not think the program seriously violates Americans' civil liberties, (or is it mainly because) you think investigating terrorism is the more important goal, even if it violates some Americans' civil liberties]

[ASKEDF OF ADULTS WHO APPROVE OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAM]

Do you think there would ever be circumstances in which it would be right for the government to create a database of telephone records, or would it not be right for the government to do this under any circumstances?

[ASKED OF ADULTS WHO DISAPPROVE OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAM]

Based on what you have heard or read about this program, do you think it - [ROTATED: definitely violates the law, probably violates the law, probably does not violate the law, (or) definitely does not violate the law]?

If you knew that the federal government had your telephone records, how concerned would you be -- very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not concerned at all?

If you knew that your telephone company had provided your telephone records to the federal government as part of this program, would you feel that your personal privacy had been violated, or not?

Would you favor or oppose holding immediate Congressional hearings to investigate this program?

How concerned are you that -- [ITEMS A-B ROTATED, ITEM C READ LAST]-- very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not concerned at all?

1. 1. Based on this program, the government would misidentify innocent Americans as possible terrorist suspects

   	Very concerned	Some-what concerned	Not too concerned	Not concerned at all	No opinion
   2006 May 12-13	36%	29	21	14	1

   
   
   
2. Based on this program, the government would listen in on telephone conversations within the U.S. without first obtaining a warrant

3. 	Very concerned	Some-what concerned	Not too concerned	Not concerned at all	No opinion
   2006 May 12-13	41%	22	17	19	1

   
   
   
4. The government is gathering other information on the general public, such as their bank records or Internet usage

As you may know, shortly after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a law called the Patriot Act was passed which makes it easier for the federal government to get information on suspected terrorists through court-ordered wiretaps and searches. How familiar are you with the Patriot Act - very familiar, somewhat familiar, not too familiar, or not at all familiar?

Based on what you have heard or read about the Patriot Act, do you think - [ROTATED: all of its provisions should be kept, that it needs minor changes, that it needs major changes, (or that) it needs to be eliminated completely]?

As you may know, shortly after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a law called the Patriot Act was passed. That law deals with the ways the federal government can obtain private information on people living in the U.S. who are suspected of having ties with terrorists. Based on what you have read or heard, do you think the Patriot Act -- [ROTATED: goes too far, is about right, or does not go far enough] -- in restricting people's civil liberties in order to investigate suspected terrorism?

Which comes closer to your view -- [ROTATED: the government should take all steps necessary to prevent additional acts of terrorism in the U.S. even if it means your basic civil liberties would be violated, (or) the government should take steps to prevent additional acts of terrorism but not if those steps would violate your basic civil liberties]?

As you may know, shortly after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a law called the Patriot Act was passed. That law deals with the ways the federal government can obtain private information on people living in the U.S. who are suspected of having ties with terrorists. How familiar are you with the Patriot Act - very familiar, somewhat familiar, not too familiar, or not at all familiar?

Next, I will read a list of things government officials can do when conducting a terrorism investigation. For each, please tell me if this is something government officials can do specifically because of the Patriot Act, or if it is something they could have done prior to the Patriot Act being passed. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

[BASED ON -505-NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A]

A. Hold terrorism suspects indefinitely without charging them with a crime or allowing them access to a lawyer

B. Require non-U.S. citizens who are suspected of terrorism offenses to face a trial before a military tribunal

C. Enter houses of worship or attend political rallies

One provision in the Patriot Act allows federal agents to secretly search a U.S. citizen's home without informing the person of that search for an unspecified period of time. Do you approve or disapprove of this provision?

[BASED ON -501-NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B]

Another provision in the Patriot Act requires businesses, including hospitals, bookstores, and libraries, to turn over records in terrorism investigations and prevents the businesses from revealing to their patients or clients that these records have been turned over to the government. Do you approve or disapprove of this provision?

[BASED ON -501-NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B]

One provision of the Patriot Act allows federal agents in terrorism or money-laundering investigations to submit lists of people to financial institutions. The institutions are required to reveal whether the people on the lists have accounts with them. The federal agents can submit the names without a judge's prior approval. Do you approve or disapprove of this provision?

[BASED ON -501-NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B]