Should Abortion Be Determined by the State or the Mother?

Homework #2: History and overview of the Policy Issue

Should Abortion be determined by the State or Mother?

Abortion has been one of the most controversial topics in America. Abortion is defined

as the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed in the first 20 weeks

of the pregnancy. Abortion is when the pregnancy is ended to prevent child birth. The

pregnancy is taken out of the uterus of the women by medical abortion which involves taking

medicines to cause a miscarriage or by surgery, where the pregnancy is out of the uterus. The

policy issue at hand is whether the decision to terminate the pregnancy be given to the mother or

the State, also known as Pro-Choice or Pro-life movements.

The history of this issue runs back to 1973 in the case of Roe V. Wade. Women’s rights

to have abortions in the second trimester of pregnancy were protected by the U.S. Constitution.

The court also ruled that States could prohibit third trimester abortions unless it jeopardizes the

Mother’s health. Supporters of abortions rejoiced and felt they had won. Shortly after the case,

two distinct groups were formed known as Pro-Choice and Pro-Life (Roe 1973).

In the companion case, Doe V. Bolton, The Court held the 1973 law unconstitutional

because it imposed too many restrictions and interfered with a woman's right to decide, consult

with her physician, and terminate her pregnancy. The supreme case overturned the laws

controlling abortion in the state of Georgia. The law prohibited abortions with the exception to

preserve a women’s life, health, or in cases of fetal abnormality or rape. The law also requires

that all abortions be conducted at a licensed hospital and that two ...

... middle of paper ...

...Saved America. New York: Basic Books, 2006.

Davey, Monica. “South Dakota's Governor Says He Favors Abortion Ban Bill.” The New York Times. 25 Feb. 2006: A9

Dionne, E.J. Jr. “Bridging the Divide on Abortion.” The Washington Post. 14 Feb. 2006. 22 Feb. 2006.

Tamar Lewin, "Legal Abortion Under Fierce Attack 15 Years After” Roe v. Wade Ruling," New York Times, May 10, 1988, accessed March 15, 2011

Johnson, Lambert. Unplanned The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey Across the Life Line. 2012

Roe v. Wade. 410 United States Report 113. Supreme Court. 1973

BELLOTTI v. BAIRD. The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. 06 April 2014.

Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England United 546 U. S. (2006) U.S. Supreme Court

Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. CASEY, 505 U.S. 833 (1992)