The Real ID Act

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the Real ID Act (RIDA), which was passed by Congress after the terrorist attacks of September 11, and which is expected to become effective in December, 2009. The author explains the reasons for setting up the Real ID Act and what will be required on the new national identification card. The author discusses the ongoing debate around it and the opposition by many of the states to it, due to its enormous funding costs and the increased risk of identity theft. The author concludes that it is unlikely that the Real ID Act will discourage terrorism, as terrorists will continue to find ways to obtain identification, and that its controversial nature will most likely preclude its implementation in all states by the end of 2009, at least in its current form.

From the Paper:

"Enforcing the Real ID Act will eventually prove to be a real bureaucratic nightmare considering the amount of work that must be made to replace all existing cards. Besides, considering the creation of a national database and the documentation required for being issued a card, cardholders would be even more exposed to identity theft and their privacy can be threatened. The Real ID Act is regarded by many lawmakers as another one of the methods used by the American government to have greater control over individual freedom under the excuse of providing security. The Real ID Act is regarded as unnecessary and useless, time and money consuming. Based on these arguments, several states have already refused the implementation of the Real ID Act on their territory and in many other states there are pending bills regarding the non-implementation of the Act (Behreandt, 2007)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Behreandt, D., "Pushing national ID's: Congress tried its best to shackle the nation with a national ID through passage of the Real ID Act. Now several states try to roll back the measure.", in The New American, Vol. 23, July 9, 2007;
• Documentation provisions of the Real ID Act, November, 2005, available at http://migrationpolicy.org/ITFIAF/Backgrounder_Jernegan.pdf
• Florence, J., "Making the no fly list fly: a due process model for terrorist watchlists", in Yale Law Journal, Vol. 115, 2006;
• Gaur, N., Baker, D., and L. Gioia, Real ID- the art of the possible, available at http://www.diamondconsultants.com/PublicSite/ideas/perspectives/downloads/INSIGHT%20-%20Real%20ID.pdf;
• The Real ID Act: National Impact Analysis, presented by the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, September 2006, available at http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0609REALID.pdf.

More papers on The Real ID Act:

• Persuasive Essay # 136935 : "The Real ID Act"
• Argumentative Essay # 101345 : "Illegal Workers in the United States"
• Essay # 42423 : "The Real Thing"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: