Patriot Act Hearings

Common Room Scholars and their friends will want to bookmark C-Span and watch it from time to time.
Today I'd like to present a particular hearing to our students, but the Common Room Scholars will want to do a little bit of research on what the Patriot Act is before you watch the hearings. I'd like my Scholars to find out enough to answer these questions:

What is the Patriot Act? Tell me something about it.
Tell me at least two things that some people do not like about it.
Tell me at least two things that some people do like about it.

It would also be helpful to learn something about the rules for House Hearings (see especially rule 11).

If any of our readers wish to suggest helpful websites, please contribute them in the comments and I'll check back and add them to the body of this post, with a link to your blog if you have one and wish me to do that.

After you can tell me something about the Patriot Act and House Hearing Rules, you'll want to watch the House Hearing on the Patriot Act Reauthorization. Scroll down the C-Span page just a wee bit- it's under the video/audio section, in 'recent programs.' It's about two hours long.

Narration assignments:
What problems connected to the Patriot Act were addressed by those who spoke at the House Hearing?
Do you feel that those who are concerned that the Patriot Act violates civil liberties and our freedoms had their concerns addressed and fairly represented?
Tell me about the testimony of any person you choose.

Based on your research (which we understand must be sketchy thus far) and viewing the C-Span hearings, what are your views on the Patriot Act?

Update: read this article about the secrecy in reauthorizing the Patriot Act.