Assignment #2: History and Overview of the Policy Issue Should abortion be determined by the state or by the mother? Abortion has been one of the most controversial topics in America. Abortion is defined as the voluntary termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion is the termination of pregnancy to prevent the birth of a child. The pregnancy is removed from the woman's uterus through a medical abortion which involves taking medication to cause a miscarriage or through surgery, when the pregnancy occurs outside the uterus. The political question that arises is whether the decision to terminate the pregnancy is up to the mother or the state, also known as the pro-choice or pro-life movements. The history of this issue dates back to 1973 in the case of Roe V. Wade. A woman's right to have an abortion during the second trimester of pregnancy was protected by the U.S. Constitution. The court also ruled that states could ban third-trimester abortions unless doing so would endanger the mother's health. Abortion supporters rejoiced and felt they had won. Shortly after the affair, two separate groups formed, known as Pro-Choice and Pro-Life (Roe 1973). In the related case, Doe V. Bolton, the Court found the 1973 law unconstitutional because it imposed too many restrictions and interfered with a woman's right to decide, to consult her doctor, and to terminate her pregnancy. . The landmark case struck down laws controlling abortion in the state of Georgia. The law prohibits abortions except to preserve the life and health of the woman, or in cases of fetal abnormality or rape. The law also requires that all abortions be performed in a licensed hospital and two... middle of paper ... saved America. New York: Basic Books, 2006. Davey, Monica. "South Dakota Governor Says Support for Abortion Ban Bill." The New York Times. February 25, 2006: A9Dionne, EJ Jr. “Bridging the Abortion Gap.” The Washington Post. February 14, 2006. February 22, 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 through the lifeline. 2012 Roe v. Wade. 410 United States Report 113. Supreme Court. 1973BELLOTTI v. BAIRD. The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. April 6, 2014. Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England United 546 US (2006) United States Supreme CourtPlanned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. CASEY, 505 US. 833 (1992)