Legal Definitions - Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) is a special court in the United States that was created to oversee requests for surveillance warrants against foreign spies and terrorists inside the country.

The court was established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in 1978, after revelations that the government had been conducting warrantlesswiretapping of American citizens.

The FISC is made up of 11 federal judges who are appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States. The court meets in secret and its proceedings are classified.

Examples:

• The FBI requested a warrant from the FISC to monitor the communications of a suspected Russian spy operating in the United States.
• The National Security Agency (NSA) requested a warrant from the FISC to collect phone records of suspected terrorists.

These examples illustrate how the FISC is responsible for approving requests for surveillance warrants against foreign targets. The court ensures that the government's surveillance activities comply with the law and protect the privacy rights of Americans.