--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Under the president's spying program…" description: "\"Under the president's spying program, there are no checks and balances. There is no outside review of the legality of this brazen infringement on the c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/samuel-alito-11708_american-citizens_under-the-president-s-spying-program-the_2260364.jpg" --- # Under the president's spying program, there are no checks… ![“Under the president's spying program, there are no checks and balances. There is no outside review of the legality of this brazen infringement on the civil rights and liberties of the American people. Undeterred by the public outcry, the president [George Bush] vows to continue spying on American…” quote by Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/samuel-alito-11708_american-citizens_under-the-president-s-spying-program-the_2260364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/samuel-alito-11708_american-citizens_under-the-president-s-spying-program-the_2260364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/samuel-alito-11708_american-citizens_under-the-president-s-spying-program-the_2260364.jpg) > “Under the president's spying program, there are no checks and balances. There is no outside review of the legality of this brazen infringement on the civil rights and liberties of the American people. Undeterred by the public outcry, the president \[George Bush\] vows to continue spying on American citizens.” [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The president's surveillance lacks oversight, violating civil liberties without external legal review. **In simple terms:** Spying program unchecked, rights threatened. Key Takeaway Demand accountability and oversight. Themes civil liberties government power oversight Mood concerned critical Type political legal When to use this quote - legal challenges - public advocacy - policy reform - media scrutiny Key Concepts surveillance checks and balances constitutional law Questions to Reflect On - How can democratic societies ensure security without eroding rights? - What mechanisms can prevent abuse of surveillance power? A Different Perspective Balancing security and freedom is complex and may require nuanced safeguards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizens/) [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Checks and balances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks-and-balances/) [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Legality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legality/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Vow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vow/) ## Related quotes > [The Supreme Court must strike down the government's illegal spying program as a violation of our Fourth Amendment right to privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-supreme-court-must-strike-down-the-government-s-illegal-spying/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can assure you, this is not about spying on the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-can-assure-you-this-is-not-about-spying-on-the-american-people/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I have always found it interesting... that there are people who regard copyright infringement as a form of flattery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-have-always-found-it-interesting-that-there-are-people-who-regard/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [ This \[anti-terrorism bill\] is a violation of the First Amendment right to free speech and the Fourth Amendment protection of private property... Some of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-otter/this-anti-terrorism-bill-is-a-violation-of-the-first-amendment-right/) [Butch Otter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-otter/) > [When we think in the context of the last decade's infringements upon personal liberty and the last year's revelations, it's not about surveillance. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/when-we-think-in-the-context-of-the-last-decade-s-infringements-upon/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [There's a lot of gimmick infringement out there, but that's cool. It's a compliment. But it all started right when I first came into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk-hogan/there-s-a-lot-of-gimmick-infringement-out-there-but-that-s-cool-it-s/) [Hulk Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk-hogan/) > [I'd like to do a song that I wrote today about our government's increasing infringement on our right to privacy, but the lyrics mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-piraro/i-d-like-to-do-a-song-that-i-wrote-today-about-our-government-s/) [Dan Piraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-piraro/) > [In talking about human rights today, we are referring primarily to the following demands: protection of the individual against arbitrary infringement by other individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/in-talking-about-human-rights-today-we-are-referring-primarily-to-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Tumblr, YouTube, Reddit, WordPress, and Facebook aren't responsible for the copyright infringement of each of their millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyright-act-tumblr-youtube-reddit/) [Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/) > [The FCC extorts broadcasters by threatening to take away their licenses for infringements which are usually the result of complaints from an extreme, right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/the-fcc-extorts-broadcasters-by-threatening-to-take-away-their/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Despite two decisions, in 2008 and 2010, by the U.S. Supreme Court unequivocally affirming that the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees an individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barr/despite-two-decisions-in-2008-and-2010-by-the-u-s-supreme-court/) [Bob Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barr/) > [Don't fight the patent, fight the infringement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-curtis/don-t-fight-the-patent-fight-the-infringement/) [Drew Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-curtis/) > [Napster's only alleged liability is for contributory or vicarious infringement. So when Napster's users engage in noncommercial sharing of music, is that activity copyright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boies/napster-s-only-alleged-liability-is-for-contributory-or-vicarious/) [David Boies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boies/) > [Nature is not benevolent; Nature is just, gives pound for pound, measure for measure, makes no exceptions, never tempers her decrees with mercy, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/nature-is-not-benevolent-nature-is-just-gives-pound-for-pound-measure/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) ## More by Samuel Alito > [When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/when-i-get-a-case-about-discrimination-i-have-to-think-about-people/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [I think that Congress's ability to reason is fully equal to that of the judiciary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/i-think-that-congress-s-ability-to-reason-is-fully-equal-to-that-of/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [As I mentioned, things were particularly hard during the Depression. My paternal grandfather was frequently out of work, and the family was evicted from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/as-i-mentioned-things-were-particularly-hard-during-the-depression-my/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [I can still remember the day, as an assistant U.S. attorney, when I stood up in court for the first time and I proudly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/i-can-still-remember-the-day-as-an-assistant-u-s-attorney-when-i/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [If you want know what sort of a justice I would make, then look at what sort of a judge I have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/if-you-want-know-what-sort-of-a-justice-i-would-make-then-look-at/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [I've learned a lot during my years on the 3rd Circuit, particularly, I think, about the way in which a judge should go about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/i-ve-learned-a-lot-during-my-years-on-the-3rd-circuit-particularly-i/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [Part of me wanted to get a graduate degree in political science. Had I done that, I suppose I would have become a college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/part-of-me-wanted-to-get-a-graduate-degree-in-political-science-had-i/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [My grandparents came worked hard, and I believe they never regretted their decision to come here and make a new start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/my-grandparents-came-worked-hard-and-i-believe-they-never-regretted/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [You want us to step in and render a decision based on an assessment of the effects of this institution which is newer than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/you-want-us-to-step-in-and-render-a-decision-based-on-an-assessment/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [Good judges are always open to the possibility of changing their minds based on the next brief that they read, or the next argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/good-judges-are-always-open-to-the-possibility-of-changing-their/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [I think that the legitimacy of the court would be undermined in any case if the court made a decision based on its perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/i-think-that-the-legitimacy-of-the-court-would-be-undermined-in-any/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [I have been a judge for 15 years and I've made up my own mind during all that time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/i-have-been-a-judge-for-15-years-and-i-ve-made-up-my-own-mind-during/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [The most important quality for a judge is open- mindedness to the arguments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/the-most-important-quality-for-a-judge-is-open-mindedness-to-the/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has been a pioneer, and her dedicated service on the Supreme Court will never be forgotten. And the people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/justice-sandra-day-o-connor-has-been-a-pioneer-and-her-dedicated/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [A generation earlier, I think that somebody from my background probably would not have felt fully comfortable at a college like Princeton. But, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/a-generation-earlier-i-think-that-somebody-from-my-background/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) [Explore all 58 Samuel Alito quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) ## More American citizens quotes > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [I want to say unequivocally that while I cherish every person who comes from anywhere, who comes here legally and seeks to pursue happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-want-to-say-unequivocally-that-while-i-cherish-every-person-who/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [There's been a systematic propagandizing of American citizens for 30 years to make us forget what America is supposed to be and what our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/there-s-been-a-systematic-propagandizing-of-american-citizens-for-30/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [We have a bunch of American citizens who step up because that's what we do. We'll step up and go across the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/we-have-a-bunch-of-american-citizens-who-step-up-because-that-s-what/) [Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/) > [Having spent 37 years of my life in the military as a reservist, and never having met a gay in all of that time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/having-spent-37-years-of-my-life-in-the-military-as-a-reservist-and/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [Think of the undying glory that hangs around the ancient name of Africa and forget not that you are native-born American citizens, and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-highland-garnet/think-of-the-undying-glory-that-hangs-around-the-ancient-name-of/) [Henry Highland Garnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-highland-garnet/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Our Navy was very largely sunk. And we were at war in no time at all. I share, in retrospect, the distress we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-rusher/our-navy-was-very-largely-sunk-and-we-were-at-war-in-no-time-at-all-i/) [William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-rusher/) > [As long as my record stands in federal court, any American citizen can be held in prison or concentration camps without trial or hearing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-korematsu/as-long-as-my-record-stands-in-federal-court-any-american-citizen-can/) [Fred Korematsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-korematsu/) > [“It may sound reactionary, I know. But we can all feel it. We've changed the way we think of ourselves as citizens. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/it-may-sound-reactionary-i-know-but-we-can-all-feel-it-we-ve-changed/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [So after a long time of utilizing the American propaganda machine, along with official statements of lies, distortion and falsehood, the focus was basically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naji-sabri/so-after-a-long-time-of-utilizing-the-american-propaganda-machine/) [Naji Sabri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naji-sabri/) > [You are an American, so you're hurt that other American citizens have been hurt, but you end up having to shoulder the shame for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/you-are-an-american-so-you-re-hurt-that-other-american-citizens-have/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Now, how do you explain Obama's claim, that he can kill American citizens without due process? Well, he has his attorney general get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/now-how-do-you-explain-obama-s-claim-that-he-can-kill-american/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) [Browse all 242 American citizens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Under the president's spying program, there are no checks and balances. There is no outside review of the legality of this brazen infringement on the civil rights and liberties of the American people. 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