ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the most controversial social issue in the United States over the past three decades. Abortion is one of many policy areas that the constitutional principle of federalism had assigned to the individual states. The National Organization for Women (NOW) made reproductive freedom; including abortion, part of its Women's Bill of Rights. There are significant obstacles to a Court decision upholding abortion rights against restrictive state laws. The pro-life representative Henry Hyde introduced a rider to the Health, Education and Welfare Appropriations bill that cut off Medicaid funds for virtually all abortions. Most analyses show that a majority of Americans favours liberal access to abortion services for health reasons, but disapproves of non-therapeutic abortions. The chapter reveals the conflict that can arise over policy-making between different government institutions and between different interest groups. It is surprising that political activists who are dealing with matters of life and death take full advantage of what the system has to offer.
