Critical Analysis

1. On June 24, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022), the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; overturning precedent set in Roe v. Wade (1973). Nearly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs ruling, what percent of Americans currently say abortion should be legal in all/most cases?

2. According to the data from the visual above, what percent of Democrats currently say abortion should be legal in all/most cases?

3. According to the data from the visual above, since 1995 describe the trend in American public opinion regarding abortion.

4. According to the data from the visual above, since 1995 describe the partisan gap in public opinion regarding abortion.

5. Almost 1/3 of the American public supports abortion rights, yet abortion is not legal in all parts of the United States. Explain why that is.

6. According to the data from the map below and this companion table, what is the status of the legality of abortion in your state?

7. As shown in the visual below, in a number of American states legislative bans on abortions had been temporarily blocked by judges. How does that illustrate the concept of checks and balance

8. On May 28, 1788, Alexander Hamilton published Federalist 78—titled “The Judicial Department.”  In this famous Federalist Paper essay, Hamilton emphasized the importance of an independent judiciary and the power of judicial review.  With judicial independence, the Constitution put barriers in place—like life tenure and salary protections—to ensure that the federal courts were independent from the control of the elected branches. Make a claim about what would happen if we held Supreme Court elections.

9. Based on the visual below* describe the age gap in opinion on abortion rights.

10. Some people argue that politics, policy changes, and Supreme Court rulings don’t really matter to the average American. Based on the data in the visual below* about how the reality of abortion access has changed, make a claim about whether politics matters.

Visual Extension*

Learning Extension

Check out the Pew data about public attitudes towards abortion in the US.

Action Extension

Most abortion policy is currently being made at the state level. Contact your state legislators and let them know what kind of policy you would like them to make.