Introduction
Executive orders are directions that the President of the United States issues and are legally binding. Without passing through Congress, these orders are used to put policies and programs into effect. Throughout history, executive orders have addressed various concerns, including abortion rights. Executive actions range from restrictions on funding for abortion providers to outright bans on certain types of abortions.
Executive Actions on Abortion Rights: Past Measures and Impacts
In American politics, abortion is a debated topic. The right of a woman to choose to have an abortion was established by the Supreme Court’s famous Roe v. Wade ruling (Coen-Sanchez et al., 2022). The morality and legality of abortion have since been the subject of heated discussion.
Executive directives concerning abortion rights have significantly impacted the executive branch recently. For instance, President Trump issued an executive order in 2017 that reintroduced the Global Gag Rule, often known as the Mexico City Policy (Coen-Sanchez et al., 2022). This rule forbids foreign groups receiving assistance from the United States from offering or advocating abortion.
Proposed Executive Actions and Potential Effects on Abortion Rights
One of the proposed executive actions in progress is the Protect Life Rule, which is one of the most significant planned executive actions, unveiled by the Trump administration in 2018. This regulation would make it illegal for Title X family planning facilities to recommend or provide abortions to abortions (Peck, 2019). A Title X government program helps low-income people and families by supporting family planning services. This law would effectively stop funding Planned Parenthood and other organizations that perform abortions or refer people for them if it were to be implemented.
A prohibition on late-term abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy is another executive measure that has been suggested. Such a restriction, according to pro-choice proponents, would violate women’s reproductive rights and compel them to carry unintended pregnancies to term (Sasi, 2019). Pro-choice organizations have filed lawsuits against these initiatives, claiming they violate women’s constitutional rights to privacy and physical autonomy (Sasi, 2019). Although the definition of what constitutes an “undue burden” is still disputed, the Supreme Court has previously held that states cannot place an “undue burden” on women seeking abortions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, executive orders related to abortion rights can significantly impact women’s health domestically and internationally. These directives reflect each administration’s stance on this contentious issue and can shape policies related to reproductive healthcare access for years. As the debate continues, it is clear that this issue will remain controversial for years.
References
Coen-Sanchez, K., Ebenso, B., El-Mowafi, I. M., Berghs, M., Idriss-Wheeler, D., & Yaya, S. (2022). Repercussions of overturning Roe v. Wade for women across systems and beyond borders. Reproductive Health, 19(1), 1–5. Web.
Peck, B. (2019). What’s the Protect Life rule all about? March for Life. Web.
Sasi, A. (2019). Ethical Issues concerning Legislation in Late-Term Abortions in India. Asian Bioethics Review, 11(4), 367–376. Web.