Executive Regulation of Abortion During the Reagan-Bush Years

In 1980, the anti-abortion movement successfully gained control of the U.S. presidency and for twelve years dominated the political agenda. This thesis analyzes the rise in executive power and how Reagan and Bush used administrative mechanisms to create a regulatory strategy to eliminate the right to abortion. The power of appointment and the use of the presidential veto were key components of the administrative efforts. In addition, this thesis reviews the transformation of American jurisprudence with regard to abortion and concludes that a refashioned Supreme Court has made it almost impossible to prove that regulations of abortion are "undue burdens." An analysis of three executive policies: the 1984 "Mexico City Policy," the 1988 Fetal Tissue Research Funding Ban," and the 1988 "Gag Rule" illustrates how regulation was created, implemented, legitimized and sustained all through the powers of the Reagan-Bush administrations. These regulations violated legal standards and principles of ethics. In addition, they had substantial adverse consequences for their recipients. As a result of the Reagan-Bush efforts, there has been a reduction in both the supply of and demand for legal abortion.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Public Administration

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Political Science

Year

1993

Author dc:creator

• Weitz, Tracy A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kant Patel

• Public Administration

Statement dc:rights

• © Tracy A Weitz

Repository record dc:identifier

https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/947

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1948