Lesson Overview
Featured Article: “Answers to Questions About the Texas Abortion Law” by Roni Caryn Rabin
A brand new legislation that successfully bans most abortions in Texas went into impact on Sept. 1 — regardless that Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court docket case determined in 1973, established a constitutional proper to the process.
On this lesson, you’ll be taught in regards to the new legislation and what it means for individuals in Texas. Then we invite you to be taught extra about how the legislation will significantly have an effect on youngsters, and weigh in together with your opinions in regards to the state of abortion rights in 2021.
Heat-Up
Since Sept. 1, abortion has been successfully banned in Texas.
How can this be, if the Supreme Court docket dominated in 1973 that ladies have a constitutional proper to have the ability to select to have an abortion through the first 24 weeks of a being pregnant?
The reply is that the brand new Texas legislation has been written with a novel enforcement mechanism. It particularly states that no authorities official, such because the governor or the legal professional normal, can implement the legislation. As a substitute, the Texas abortion legislation creates a form of “bounty system.” Here is how it works:
The brand new legislation in Texas effectively banning most abortions has ignited widespread controversy and debate, partly due to the mechanism it makes use of to implement the restrictions: deputizing odd individuals to sue these concerned in performing abortions and giving them a monetary incentive to take action.
The legislation establishes a form of bounty system. If these vigilante plaintiffs are profitable, the legislation permits them to gather money judgments of $10,000 — and their authorized charges — from these they sue. In the event that they lose, they don’t have to pay the defendants’ authorized prices.
… The statute permits anybody — even individuals who reside exterior Texas — to file a grievance in any courtroom within the state in the event that they consider an abortion has been carried out. It additionally makes practically everybody concerned within the process — apart from the lady who receives the abortion — liable to fits, which means that medical doctors, nurses, insurance coverage corporations, even Uber drivers who assist take ladies to clinics, could possibly be susceptible.
Earlier than studying something extra in regards to the legislation and its results, what’s your response to what you will have simply learn? What questions does the outline elevate for you?
