This twelve-page undergraduate paper examines the USA Patriot Act, explains the rationale behind it, and compares the Democratic and Republican responses to its passage into law. The author observes that the Republican paradigm influences Republicans and conservatives to emphasize the need for effective law enforcement and a strong national defense; while the Democratic paradigm has influenced Democrats and liberals to focus on the impact of the Patriot Act on civil liberties, due process protections, and racial or ethnic minorities.