Unit2 Lesson 7 The future of abortion 美英报刊选读

Lesson7TheFutureofAbortion

美英报刊阅读教程（第三版）Lesson7StructureAnalysisKeytoQuestions

Photos&Diagrams

AdditionalNotes

BackgroundInformationContentsBackgroundInformation1.TheSupremeCourt

最高法院

ThejudicialbranchofthefederalgovernmentisheadedbytheU.S.SupremeCourt,whichinterpretsthemeaningoftheConstitutionandoffederallaws.联邦政府的最高级司法机构是最高法院，拥有对宪法和联邦政府的解释权。Lesson7Itconsistsofninejustices(includingthechiefjustice)appointedforlifebythepresidentwiththeconsentoftheSenate.经参议院的批准，由总统任命九个法官（终身制），包括大法官IthastheauthoritytoactincasesarisingundertheConstitution,laws,ortreatiesoftheUnitedStates;incontroversiestowhichtheUnitedStatesisaparty;incontroversiesbetweenstatesorbetweencitizensofdifferentstates;incasesofadmiraltyandmaritimejurisdiction;andincasesaffectingambassadors,otherpublicministers,andconsuls.最高法院有权判决美国宪法，法律，条约等管辖下的案子。

BackgroundInformationLesson7

2.Roevs.WadeCase

In1973theU.S.SupremeCourtruledinRoeVs.Wadethatunduly过度地restrictivestateregulationofabortionwasunconstitutional,ineffectlegalizingabortionondemandforwomeninthefirstthreemonthsofpregnancy.Acounter-movementfortherestorationofstrictcontroloverthecircumstancesunderwhichabortionsmightbepermittedsoonsprangup,andtheissuebecameentangledinsocialandpoliticalconflict.1973年的RoeVs.Wade案件，最高法院裁定对堕胎过于严格的州法律是违反宪法的，并裁定妊娠前三个月的堕胎是合法的。一场反对严格控制堕胎的运动随之迅速发展，堕胎议题卷入社会和政治冲突。BackgroundInformationLesson7

3．AbortionintheUnitedStates

Itisahighly-chargedissueinvolvingsignificantpoliticalandethicaldebate.在美国，堕胎是一个能引起激烈反响的政治和道德的议题。Abortionreferstoanypregnancythatdoesnotendinalivebirthandthereforecanrefertoamiscarriageoraprematurebirththatdoesnotresultinaliveinfant.Sucheventsareoftencalledspontaneousabortionsiftheyoccurbefore20weeksofgestation孕期.Incommonparlance,however,abortionisusedtomean“inducedabortion”ofanembryo胚胎orfetus胎儿atanypointinpregnancy,andthisisalsohowthetermisusedinalegalsense.BackgroundInformationLesson7NumberofabortionsinUnitedStates:AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControl(CDC),therewere854,122legalinducedabortionsintheUSin2003.Therearelotsofreasonsforpregnantwomentochooseanabortion,forexample,somewanttopostponechildbearing

,othershaverelationshipproblemsorthepartnerdoesnotwantpregnancy,ect.Variousreasonscontributingtotheirhavingalateabortionarereported,thatis,somedidn’trecognizetheywerepregnantormisjudgedgestation,somefoundithardtomakearrangementsforabortion,otherswereafraidtotelltheirpartnersorparents,etc.BackgroundInformationLesson7

RoevWade[1973]罗伊诉韦德Fact：Roe,aTexasresident,soughttoterminateherpregnancybyabortion.Texaslawprohibitedabortionsexcepttosavethepregnantwoman'slife.Conclusion

dissentdissent三、美国：

判决理由法律应该保护正在承受肉体和精神折磨而又不愿意生育的妇女，而不是法律地位不清的胎儿。"从一切情形看，联邦宪法所指的'人'都是特指出生后的人"自由堕胎权是个人隐私权的重要组成部分应该对于妊娠期的不同阶段区别对待。最初三个月，胎儿没有成形，堕胎一般不会对于妇女造成危害，可以允许妇女有充分的选择自由；中间三个月期间可以加以一些管理，但仅限于规范堕胎程序安全，以切实保护孕妇身体安全健康，堕胎的决定应由孕妇与医生协商做出；最后三个月，胎儿基本发育成熟，堕胎对于孕妇风险很大，州政府的禁止堕胎"有逻辑学和生物学上的合理性"

影响

美国政府最终颁布了著名的罗伊.威德法案，该法案颁布于1973年——内容为美国联邦法院赋予妇女堕胎权。在美国200多年历史中，从来没有一个判例象联邦最高法院1973年的Roev.Wade案那样，在整个社会引起如此广泛和持久对立。

现在美国：各州对堕胎的法律规定不同Lesson7AdditionalNotesForanother,thecourtclearlyinvitedstatelegislaturestoexperimentwithnewlawsdesignedtolimitaccesstoabortion—anattempttoforceabortionpolicyoutofthecourtsandintothepoliticalarena

(Line6-7,Para.2)—另外，最高法院明显怂恿州立法机构尝试旨在限制堕胎的新法律——这是一种迫使堕胎政策从法院领域走向政治领域的尝试

（accesstoabortion：allowtoabortion

）Thepost-Roeeramayliveuptothesenightmarepredictions,oritmaynot

(Line1,Para.3)—所预测的这些可怕情况在罗案后时代或许会出现，或许不会出现

(liveupto:todoaswhatisexpected

)

Lesson7AdditionalNotes3.Andinwordsthatchilledabortionadvocateseverywhere,headded,“wedonotseewhy…butprohibitingitbeforeviability…”

(Line7-11,Para.4)—他在讲那些让各地拥护堕胎者感到无比失望的话时补充说道，“我们不明白为什麽只是在胎儿具有可存活性时，国家才对保护胎儿生命表现关心，因而要划一条僵硬的界线允许对有存活性胎儿堕胎加以限制，而对未达到存活性阶段胎儿的堕胎则禁止限制。”

（whythestate’s…和thatthereshould…是并列宾语从句，作see的宾语

）4.Theresult…foeofabortion

(Line5-7,Para.5)—结果是按宪法精神新的裁决措辞谨慎、模糊不清。这结果导致极力反对堕胎的安东尼奥·斯卡利亚法官的激烈批评(muddle:astateofconfusionanddisorder)

Lesson7AdditionalNotes5.TheWebstercase"preservesachaosthatisevidenttoanyonewhocanreadandcount,"Scaliawrote."Wecannowlookforwardtoatleastanothertermwithcartsfullofmail…andstreetsfullofdemonstratorsurgingus…tofollowthepopularwill…"

(Line7-10,Para.5)—“韦伯斯特案将造成思想上的混乱，对这一点任何有点知识的人都可以看得出来。”Scalia写道，“等着瞧，至少下一阶段将会有成堆的来信和满街的示威者要求我们按照民意行事。”

（cartsfullofmail:alotofmailexpressingdifferentopinionsonthecase

）

Lesson7AdditionalNotes6.Indismissingthetrimestersystemandtheconceptoffetalviability,Rehnquistleftavacuumthatwillbeveryhardtofill

(Line2-3,Para.7)—由于摒弃了原先妊娠划为三个阶段的方法和胎儿可生存性的观念，伦奎斯特所写的裁决留下了一个无法填补的真空

(trimester:theusualAmericanwordforaTERMataschoolorcollege[美式]三个月的一个学期

)

Lesson7Photos&DiagramsPro-life要生命权反对堕胎Pro-choice选择权支持堕胎（妇女对自己的身体有选择权）Lesson7KeytoQuestions1.WhattheMissourilawsharplyrestrictedwas____.A. abortionservicesofallkindsB. women’srighttoabortionC. PubliclyfundedabortionservicesD. women’srighttoworkLesson7KeytoQuestions2.ElectedofficialsfeelworriedabouttheMissouricaseverdictbecause____.A.itisharmfultopublicinterestsB.Women’srightstoabortionwillbelimitedC.itwillcausedisunityD.ItwillcausethelossofvotesofaconstituencydividedontheabortionissueLesson73.WhichofthefollowingSupremeCourt’sjusticesisthemostliberalontheabortion____.A.WilliamRehnquistB.HarryBlackmumC.SandraDayO’ConnorD.AntoninScaliaKeytoQuestionsLesson74.WhichofthefollowinggroupsfeelhappyabouttheSupremeCourt’sverdictontheMissouricase?A. right-to-lifersB. pro-choicersC. pro-abortionistsD. women’s-rightactivistsKeytoQuestionsLesson75.Theauthor’soverallattitudetowardstheMissouricaseverdictis____.A. criticalB. positiveC. objectiveD. unknownKeytoQuestionsLesson71.Whatrightdidthe1973SupremeCourtdecisionestablishforAmericanwomen?

The1973SupremeCourtdecisionestablishedAmericanwomen’srighttoabortion.KeytoQuestionsLesson72.Whowastheauthorofthe1973Courtdecision?

JusticeHarryBlackmunistheauthorofthe1973Courtdecision.

KeytoQuestionsLesson73.Whatwasthegistofthe1989SupremeCourtdecisiondraftedbyRehnquist?

ThisdecisionupheldtheconstitutionalityofaMissourilawthatsharplyrestrictedtheavailabilityofpubliclyfundedabortionservicesandrequireddoctorstotestfortheviabilityoffetusat20weeks.

KeytoQuestionsLesson74.Howdidthe1989decisionaffectthe1973decision?The1989decisionnarrowedthe1973decision.ItrepresentedthefirstrealcrackinthelegalfoundationofRoe.KeytoQuestionsLesson75.HowdoestheAmericanpublicfeelabouttheabortionissueaccordingtotherecentNewsweekpoll?MostAmericanpublicsupporttheideaofcompromise.Thepollshowsanincreaseinpublicsupportforlegalizingabortionunderallcircumstances.Butdetailedquestionsonproposalstorestrictabortiontelladifferentstory.Thepublicbacksmandatorytestsoffetalviabilityandopposestheuseofpublicmoneyorpublicfacilitiestoterminateapregnancyunlessthemother’slifeisendangered.

KeytoQuestionsLesson76.TothemindofJusticeAntoninScalia,whatresultwouldtheWebstercasecreate?

TothemindofJusticeAntoninScalia,theWebstercasewouldcreatechaosandcontroversyandthepublicmightexpressdifferentopinionsonthiscaseandevenholddemonstrations.

KeytoQuestionsLesson77.HowdoesJusticeHenryBlackmumfeelabouttheRehnquistdecision?

HeisagainsttheRehnquistdecision.Hechargedthatthedecisionis“deceptive”andisintendedtodoawaywiththe1973decision.

KeytoQuestionsLesson78.WhatdoestheauthorthinkofBlackmum’sdecision?

TheauthorthinksBlackmun’sdecisionwasanattempttobalancetherightofwomenagainsttherightsoftheunborn.

KeytoQuestionsStructureAnalysisReadingSkillPartI(1)DecisionbytheSupremeCourt

PartIIPartIII(2)Significanceofthedecision

(3)Publicsentimentontheabortion

StructureAnalysisReadingSkillPart

IV(4)IntentionoftheSupremeCourt:torollbackRoeVs.WadePartⅤPartⅥ(5-6)Criticismofthedecisionbythetwosides(7)Author’sview:AvacuumoflogicalbasisforrevisingtheRoecaseLesson7(1)DecisionbytheSupremeCourt

Question：WhatisthedecisionofSupremeCourt?Ina5-4decisionwrittenbyChiefJusticeWilliamRehnquist,thecourtupheldtheconstitutionalityofaMissourilawthatsharplyrestricttheavailabilityofpubliclyfundedabortionservicesandrequireddoctorstotesttheviabilityofafetusat20weeks,ortwothirdsofthewaysthroughthesecondtrimesterofpregnancy.最高法院以5票对4票通过了大法官WilliamRehnquist起草的的决定中，确认密苏里州的一项法律是合乎宪法精神的。StructureAnalysis1989年8月，最高法院以5比4的微弱多数把1986年密苏里州的堕胎法判决为合宪。这次判决给各州的立法机构开了绿灯，使其得以在堕胎问题上设置各种障碍或附加条件。RoeV.Wade,thelandmark1973decisionthatestablishedawoman’srighttoabortion,wasstillthelawoftheland,butithadbeennarrowed.它的效应缩小了。II.(2)

Significanceofthedecision

Hadasignificancefarbeyondthespecificofthedecision这个裁决的影响比它本身具体的决定有更广泛的影响。

1.CrackinthelegalfoundationofRoe有人认为高等法院此举是为了铲除当年的1973Roevs.Wade的判决结果，让各个州政府来决定，使得堕胎这个问题从高等法院走进各州的立法机构。此举，使得保守派，反对堕胎者雀跃不已---delight女权主义者气馁---dismay候选人紧张万分，---terrify选举的派系斗争会让堕胎问题成为对候选人的试验，对于自己的选民分布在两派的政客而言，这是一个无法取胜的事。

2.Encouragementforotherstatelegislaturestoexperimentwithnewlawslimitingaccesstoabortion

最高法院鼓励其他州立法限制堕胎。Lesson7(3)Publicsentimentontheabortion

公众的反应Broadlysupporttheideaofcompromise妥协

1.Broadly:increaseofabortionadvocates21%-29%decreaseofabortionopponents22%-17%2.Specifically:Supportforviabilitytestandmorestringentmedicalstandards;oppositiontouseofpublicmoneyorpublicfacilitiesforabortion公众以21%的差额多数支持强制性的胎儿存活试验（限制堕胎的举措还是很严格），绝大多数反对使用公家设备或公款堕胎，除非孕妇的生命受到威胁。StructureAnalysisButdetailedquestionsonproposalstorestrictabortiontelladifferentstory.限制堕胎的举措（严格）IV.(4)

IntentionoftheSupremeCourt:torollbackRoeVs.Wade

Rollback废除密苏里案进一步证实最高法院打算废弃RoeVsWade案Thequestionnowishowtodevise设计alegalstandardforpoliticalcompromise---butthereislittleinlastweek’sdecisiontogivepoliticiansorlower-courtjudgesclearguidance.TherigidRoeframeworkishardlyconsistentwiththenotionofaconstitutioncase.罗案僵硬的条款和宪法是相违背的。Chillabortionadvocate让堕胎的支持者寒心Wedonotseewhythestate’sinterestinprotectinglifeshouldcomeintoexistenceonlyatthepointof(fetal)viability,andthatthereforethereshou