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Roe v. Wade (1973)

Definition

A landmark Supreme Court decision that established a woman's legal right to have an abortion under certain circumstances, based on the constitutional right to privacy.

Analogy

Think of Roe v. Wade like a personal bubble around each person. Just as you wouldn't want someone popping your bubble without your permission, this case decided that women should have control over their own bodies and medical decisions - including whether or not to have an abortion.

Related terms

First Trimester: The first three months of pregnancy; according to Roe v. Wade, during this period, governments cannot regulate abortions beyond requiring that they be performed by licensed practitioners in medically safe conditions.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992): This is another important Supreme Court case about abortion rights which reaffirmed Roe v. Wade but allowed for more state regulation of abortions if it does not impose an "undue burden" on women seeking them.

Abortion Rights: These are legal protections for the right to access and obtain an abortion; these rights were significantly expanded in America due to Roe v. Wade.