Describe legislative actions that have been taken in attempts to limit abortion.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Most legislative actions to limit abortions have been in state legislatures. Two notable exceptions are the Hyde Amendment and the Partial Birth Abortion Act--both congressional actions. The Hyde Amendment to a 1976 appropriations bill prohibits the use of federal funds to perform abortions. The Partial Birth Abortion Act outlaws partial birth abortions in late-term pregnancies except in the extreme cases of threat to the mother’s life. Other attempts to limit abortions have been carried out in state legislatures and involve a variety of different measures. Not all of these measures have passed constitutional muster, but the states have been active in trying to stop abortions. States have attempted to place age restrictions on abortions, requiring parental consent for girls under a certain age. Some states have attempted to require consent from the woman’s male partner before allowing the procedure. States have required waiting or “cooling off” procedures and detailed reporting requirements on hospitals and doctors. The thought being that if a woman has to go through the trouble of going to a clinic twice, she may abandon the attempt. State legislatures have been successful at banning late-term abortions. States have also placed restrictions on clinics. They have required doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges in hospitals. They have imposed stronger liability laws on clinics, making it difficult for them to operate. They have imposed requirements of “informed consent” requiring doctors to read a script to patients about the presumed physical and psychological dangers of abortions.