Introduced on April 14, 2011 to the House of Representatives, the National Defense Authorization Act was passed by the Senate on Dec. 1, 2011.

The National Defense Authorization Act would place investigations of homeland security in the hands of the military. There would additionally be no limit on jail time, opening the door to potential indefinite imprisonment.

The only condition to detain an American citizen indefinitely would be that our government must consider the individual a “terrorist threat” to the country.

If this circumstance is fulfilled, and the act is passed, it will authorize the military to arrest and indefinitely detain citizens without a trial or charge.

The main controversy surrounding the act is that many feel that it is a direct contradiction to the Bill of Rights. Under the sixth amendment, American citizens are guaranteed the right to a trial with both a jury of our peers and a lawyer. It also directly undermines President Obama’s executive order that bans torture.

The act will now be placed in front of President Barack Obama’s desk for consideration. President Obama does have the power to veto this bill. However if he takes no action, with or against, the act within 14 days it will automatically be passed.

-Rohina Azizian, Online Editor/Sports Editor/News Editor