Module 3 – Case

Ethics and Laws in Homeland Security

Assignment Overview

Some people say that our government is snooping into our business daily.

The and domestic surveillance (such as monitoring of emails and phone calls) have become controversial among the American public, sparking concerns over privacy and related issues. The USA Patriot Act and other federal laws permit law enforcement and intelligence agencies some leeway in domestic surveillance.

Leaks by former National Security Agency (NSA) worker Edward Snowden revealed an extensive program of surveillance by the NSA and the intelligence community. Public outcry has resulted in open and closed hearings before Congress as well as many lawsuits and other legal actions by private citizens and organizations.

There is a need for some measure of surveillance to protect citizens from terrorist attacks; however, these measures are difficult to define and often secret. Examining this controversial issue is an important part of understanding the foundations of Homeland Security.

Case Assignment

After studying the required readings and other sources:

• Briefly discuss your opinion of the legal and ethical role of DHS and its component agencies in the domestic surveillance of U.S. citizens.
• Remember to cover such areas as privacy, surveillance, and treatment of citizens.
• Google your state’s Homeland Security Plan. For example, enter (Name of your state) Homeland Security Plan, and note any language relating to safety and privacy of citizens.

Assignment Expectations

Length: This Case Assignment should be 3-5 pages, not counting the title page and references.

References: At least two references should be included from academic sources (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles). Required readings are included. Quoted material should not exceed 10% of the total paper (since the focus of these assignments is critical thinking). Use your own words and build on the ideas of others. When material is copied verbatim from external sources, it MUST be enclosed in quotes. The references should be cited within the text and listed at the end of the assignment in the References section (preferably in APA format).

Organization: Subheadings should be used to organize your paper according to question.

Grammar and Spelling: While no points are deducted for minor errors, assignments are expected to adhere to standard guidelines of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence syntax. Points may be deducted if grammar and spelling impact clarity.

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