According to the author, how has the Patriot Act helped protect the nation?

It has given the government more power to investigate and prosecute acts of terror.
It has allowed the government to break laws when acts of terror are suspected.
It has made stopping attacks easier because of stricter privacy protections.
It has allowed for greater authority to investigate and prosecute crimes of any nature.

It has the power to investigate and prosecute acts of terror.

Explanation:

The patriotic Act was enacted after the 2001 terrorist attack on the United States. The patriotic Act was passed on the initiative of President George W. Bush. This law is one of the responses to terrorists and is part of the mechanism used by the government in the war on terror. By this law, the state authorities combating terrorism are enabled to act faster in the fight against terrorism. In the first place, it involves "bypassing" specific bureaucratic protocols. For example, if a person is reasonably suspected of being a terrorist threat, no warrant is required to raid the apartment, to monitor, listen, and the like. The law was enacted to combat terrorism more effectively.