Essay Question:
Should the federal government monitor phone and internet activity through federal offices, such as the National Security Agency (NSA), to protect the security of the United States and its citizens?
Helpful links for answering this essay question:
This
website has video clips, three for each the "for" and "against" NSA surveillance. It also has links to helpful articles.
This
link is the Bill of Rights Institute's lesson plan. Please see it for further explanations and sources for this topic and the essay.
This
link offers a slideshow of pictures with descriptions that narrate a history of government surveillance in the United States.
This
link shows search results for "is nsa surveillance constitutional." You might try googling similar phrases that are more tailored to your specific questions and curiosities.
This
link offers an in-depth history of spying and the NSA, along with the NSA's predecessor.
Snowden on TED Talks
The NSA responds to Edward Snowden's TED Talks
Remember, the question is about whether the NSA should or should not gather metadata on its citizens. The Constitution agrees to both "provide for the common defense" and "secure the blessings of liberty." One of these liberties is the 4th amendment which protects us against unreasonable search and seizure. The world is not what it was 200+ years ago, so how are we to interpret these constitutional phrases? Is it necessary to gather metadata to provide for the common defense? It might be, yet, some argue it is not. It is likely that the government does need to collect some metadata to ensure the safety of its citizens; how much metadata is requisite, and how much is too much? Where is the line? It is up to you to choose a position. Your answer should be research-based.
