Idea 9 of 11 · working draft
A National 18-Week Standard on Abortion, With States Free to Go Further
Set a national minimum for abortion access through 18 weeks, with medical exceptions afterward and states free to allow broader access.
Set a national minimum for abortion access through 18 weeks, with medical exceptions after that. States could allow broader access, but could not set an earlier limit. People hold sincere, different beliefs about when life begins. This plan sets a national minimum and lets states go further.
What it would do
- Set a national minimum for access through 18 weeks, replacing earlier state limits.
- Keep medical exceptions after 18 weeks and respect the patient’s and doctor’s judgment.
- Let states allow broader access.
- Keep legal access and federal funding as separate questions.
The legal framework
- Set a federal minimum for access across the country through 18 weeks.
- Let states allow broader access if their voters and laws choose to.
- After 18 weeks, keep medical exceptions and respect the judgment of the patient and doctor.
- Treat legality and federal funding as two separate questions.
Different beliefs
People hold sincere, different beliefs about when life begins. This plan sets a national minimum and lets states go further.
The result, stated plainly
A national minimum through 18 weeks would replace earlier state limits. States could allow access after 18 weeks. Medical exceptions would remain after 18 weeks.
Access and funding
Whether a procedure is legal and whether federal funds pay for it remain separate questions under this plan.
Sources and background
The First Amendment’s text protects religious exercise and bars government establishment of religion. It provides context for the draft’s conscience argument; it does not state an 18-week abortion rule or establish that the proposed national minimum is current law.
Common questions
- What is the “A National 18-Week Standard on Abortion, With States Free to Go Further” idea?
- Set a national minimum for abortion access through 18 weeks, with medical exceptions afterward and states free to allow broader access.
- How would it work?
- Set a national minimum for abortion access through 18 weeks, with medical exceptions after that. States could allow broader access, but could not set an earlier limit. People hold sincere, different beliefs about when life begins. This plan sets a national minimum and lets states go further.
- The legal framework?
- Set a federal minimum for access across the country through 18 weeks. Let states allow broader access if their voters and laws choose to. After 18 weeks, keep medical exceptions and respect the judgment of the patient and doctor. Treat legality and federal funding as two separate questions.
- Different beliefs?
- People hold sincere, different beliefs about when life begins. This plan sets a national minimum and lets states go further.
- The result, stated plainly?
- A national minimum through 18 weeks would replace earlier state limits. States could allow access after 18 weeks. Medical exceptions would remain after 18 weeks.
- Access and funding?
- Whether a procedure is legal and whether federal funds pay for it remain separate questions under this plan.
- Sources and background?
- The First Amendment’s text protects religious exercise and bars government establishment of religion. It provides context for the draft’s conscience argument; it does not state an 18-week abortion rule or establish that the proposed national minimum is current law.
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