On July 21, 2005, the US House of Representatives voted to extend the Patriot Act, a law used to combat terrorism in the US. The measure was approved 257-171 with 43 Democrats joining 214 Republicans in voting to extend key provisions of the Act that were set to expire at the end of the year. The majority of the debate centered on language making permanent 14 of 16 provisions that had sunset provisions and included 10-year extensions to two other provisions. President George W. Bush praised the vote while some Democrats expressed concern that the law may allow civil liberties to be trampled. President Barack Obama has also signed a bill extending the Patriot Act to 2015.

Learn more about the Patriot Act from the JURIST news archive, and read an overview of The Legacy of 9/11 in Features.