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Roe v. Wade

Definition

A landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 that established a woman's legal right to an abortion under certain circumstances.

Analogy

Think about owning a house - you have the right to decide what happens inside your home as long as it doesn't harm others or break any laws. Roe v. Wade gave women similar rights over their bodies - they could choose whether or not to have an abortion during early stages of pregnancy.

Related terms

Abortion Rights: Legal principles for the recognition of the decision-making capacity of pregnant women for matters concerning abortion.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992): A significant Supreme Court case that reaffirmed Roe v. Wade but also upheld more restrictions on abortions.

Right To Privacy: The concept that one's personal information is protected from public scrutiny; this principle played a key role in establishing abortion rights under Roe v. Wade.