Gag Rule Law and Legal Definition
Gag rule refers to any instructions, order, or laws prohibiting someone from discussing or advocating something. It is any rule restricting open discussion or debate concerning a given issue, such as a deliberative body or other contexts, such as labor relations. In an effort to stem union-related activities, presidential executive orders in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s prohibited federal employees from lobbying Congress for wage increases and improved working conditions.
Global gag rule is a term for restrictions on health care organizations that prohibit U.S. assistance for family planning from being provided to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that use funding from any other source to perform abortion in cases other than a threat to the life of the woman, rape, or incest; to provide counseling and referral for abortion; or to lobby to make abortion legal or more available in their own country.
