| Abstract |
The founding fathers created the Bill of Rights, but left succeeding generations of Americans the task of interpreting what these liberties meant. Our rights have most often been determined by court decisions; and the final word rests with the Supreme Court. Privacy, often defined as the right to be left alone, is an abstract concept until a live legal issue is presented. In Roe v. Wade the issue was this: should a woman have the right to terminate her pregnancy, or can the interests of the state government prevent such freedom of choice? The opinions of the justices can serve as the basis for student discussion views on the ethical and legal issues involved. A civics class may wish to use the roe case to discuss the far-reaching role of government. American history classes may find the Roe case useful in analyzing civil rights as they are interpreted now, and as they are interpreted now, and as they might be interpreted in the future. |
