Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (Noun)
Meaning
A secret federal court created in 1978 by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; responsible for authorizing wiretaps and other forms of electronic surveillance and for authorizing searches of suspected spies and terrorists by the Department of Justice or United States intelligence agencies.
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court reviews and approves applications from the Department of Justice for electronic surveillance of foreign agents and terrorists.
- The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court operates in secret to protect national security and the identities of those being surveilled.
- Critics argue that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court lacks transparency and oversight, potentially leading to abuses of power.
- The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has been at the center of controversy over the years, particularly with regards to its role in authorizing mass surveillance programs.
- The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is composed of 11 federal district court judges who are appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States.