Final answer:
The Patriot Act, enacted during George W. Bush's presidency in 2001, expanded federal surveillance powers to counter terrorism, but also involved civil liberty debates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Patriot Act came into effect in 2001 during the presidency of George W. Bush. The full name of the act is the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, and it significantly expanded federal government surveillance powers in an effort to improve national security. This law allowed for increased monitoring of electronic communications and granted authorities greater leeway in tracking and intercepting communications related to terrorism investigations. While this was seen by many as a necessary step to protect the country from further terrorist attacks, it also sparked debates over civil liberties and privacy rights, with critics arguing that it gave the government too much power over individuals' private information.