Question 1

In order to hold a noncitizen, the Attorney General of the U.S. must show that there exists "_____ to believe" that the individual has engaged in terrorist activities.

Accepted Answer

The standard required is "reasonable grounds to believe" that the individual has engaged in terrorist activities, which is a lower threshold than probable cause.

Question 2

The USA PATRIOT Act allows noncitizens to be detained for how long without being charged with a criminal or immigration violation?

Accepted Answer

The USA PATRIOT Act allows noncitizens to be detained for up to 7 days without being charged with a criminal or immigration violation.

Question 3

By what logic are counterterrorism officials allowed to monitor attorney-client communications under certain, limited circumstances?

Accepted Answer

Attorney-client privilege is designed to protect the confidentiality of communications between a client and their attorney. However, this privilege does not extend to communications that are in furtherance of a crime or fraud. In the context of counterterrorism, if there is a reasonable belief that the communication between a suspect and their attorney is being used to further acts of terrorism, officials may be allowed to monitor these communications under certain limited and strictly regulated circumstances to prevent harm. This is based on the principle that the privilege is not intended to protect communications that are part of the commission of a crime or an act of terrorism.

Question 4

Which of the following is not one of the primary purposes of the USA PATRIOT Act?

Accepted Answer

The creation of a new federal agency to oversee the security of the country is not one of the primary purposes of the USA PATRIOT Act. The primary purposes include introducing procedural reforms to make it easier to investigate and deter acts of terrorism, as well as defining new federal criminal offenses related to terrorism.

Question 5

In order to seize tangible records, the FBI must demonstrate what about the records?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In order to seize tangible records, the...

Question 6

In order to obtain access to information the FBI believes to be relevant to an investigation of terrorism without a court order, a/an _____ must be issued.

Accepted Answer

National security letters (NSLs) allow the FBI to obtain access to certain types of information relevant to an investigation of terrorism without a court order. NSLs can be issued by the FBI without judicial oversight, but they are subject to some limitations and must comply with certain statutory requirements.

Question 7

Which of the following is not a primary characteristic of the U.S. State Department's definition of terrorism?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. State Department's definition of terrorism includes political motivation, violence against noncombatants, and the involvement of sub-national groups, but it does not require that the intention of the violence is to kill high numbers of victims. The harm inflicted can range from relatively minor to catastrophic.

Question 8

According to FISA, the U.S. attorney general can authorize emergency surveillance of a U.S. citizen for how long before obtaining a warrant?

Accepted Answer

Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the U.S. attorney general can authorize emergency surveillance for up to 7 days before obtaining a warrant.

Question 9

According to the 2006 amendment to the USA PATRIOT Act, the standard delay of notification of a sneak-and-peek search is set at _____.

Accepted Answer

The 2006 amendment to the USA PATRIOT Act set the standard delay for notification of a sneak-and-peek search at 30 days.

Question 10

Terrorism that involves individuals from more than one country or territory of more than one country is known as _____.

Accepted Answer

International terrorism involves individuals from more than one country or territory of more than one country. Domestic terrorism only involves individuals within one's own country, state-sponsored terrorism involves a government supporting terrorist activities, and global terrorism is a vague term that could refer to any terrorism with a global reach.

Question 11

In 2001, President Bush issued an order stating that unlawful enemy combatants were to be tried before _____.

Accepted Answer

President Bush's order stated that unlawful enemy combatants were to be tried before military commissions.

Question 12

An individual who is believed to posses material testimony to a criminal investigation and who is reasonably believed to flee or be otherwise unavailable to testify at a later date may be detained by means of a/an _____.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question pertains to a material witness who may need to be detained in order to secure their testimony. A material witness warrant allows for the detention of such an individual in order to ensure their availability for testimony. The other options (extradition, general, and summons warrants) do not pertain to the specific situation described in the question.

Question 13

The primary purpose of a FISA warrant must be to investigate a threat to national security or _____.

Accepted Answer

The FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) warrant is used to investigate threats to national security, which includes threats of terrorism. While espionage, sedition, and treason may also be considered threats to national security, they are not as commonly associated with the primary purpose of a FISA warrant as terrorism is.

Question 14

The United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 is commonly known as the _____.

Accepted Answer

The full name of the law is the USA PATRIOT Act, which stands for the United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001. A and B refer to other laws related to national security, and C is not a real law.

Question 15

In order to prevent a subject of a national security letter from discussing the investigation, the FBI may _____.

Accepted Answer

Imposing a gag order on the subject is a common method used by the FBI to prevent the subject from discussing the investigation. This is a legal tool used to protect sensitive information and prevent any potential harm to national security. Nondisclosure agreements and protective custody are less commonly used measures, while surveillance may be used but does not directly prevent the subject from discussing the investigation.

Question 16

Section 218 of the USA PATRIOT Act was passed to address the so-called "wall" established due to fears stemming from _____.

Accepted Answer

Section 218 of the USA PATRIOT Act was passed to address the so-called "wall" that prevented intelligence agencies from sharing information with law enforcement agencies due to fears stemming from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The section amended FISA to allow for greater communication between intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Question 17

A search in which law enforcement agents are able to delay notification of a suspect that they have conducted the search is known as a/an _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A search in which law enforcement agents...

Question 18

In order to provide procedures for electronic surveillance, the U.S. Congress passed the _____.

Accepted Answer

The FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Act provides procedures for electronic surveillance for the purpose of obtaining foreign intelligence information. The other options mentioned are not specifically related to electronic surveillance procedures.

Question 19

Which of the following officially ended the use of so-called enhanced interrogation techniques?

Accepted Answer

The Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 prohibited the inhumane treatment of prisoners, effectively ending the use of enhanced interrogation techniques by the U.S. government.

Question 20

In order to obtain a FISA warrant, the government must _____ that the target of the order may engage in terrorism or other acts threatening to national security.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In order to obtain a FISA warrant,...

Quiz 15: Counterterrorism