That's Reasonable...or Probable...or Something

The National Security Agency (NSA) acknowledgement that it has engaged in nonconsensual electronic surveillances of telecommunications to which US citizens may be a party has elevated the terms "probable cause," "reasonable suspicion," and "reasonableness standard" to new public attention.

Because of the debate over the legality of the NSA's response to the President's direction, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence requested the Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service (CRS), to prepare a memorandum clarifying the terms. That memorandum, subject: Probable Cause, Reasonable Suspicion, and Reasonableness Standards in the Context of the Fourth Amendment and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, was sent to the Committee on January 30, 2006.