Pro-Choice Law and Legal Definition
Pro-choice is a term used for those who support a woman's right to choose abortion if she so wishes. Supporters of the pro-choice agenda do not necessarily support abortion itself, only the position that women are entitled to make the decision themselves. Most pro-choice politicians will usually seek to avoid the emotive issue of abortion itself, following instead the libertarian line that government has no place interfering in what should be a private decision.
The Democratic Party has been broadly supportive of the pro-choice movement. President Clinton summed up his party's stance by saying abortions should be "safe, legal and rare". Republicans, however, have been divided. The religious right-wing of the party still calls for a total ban on abortion, while moderates are wary that a strong stance will deter female voters from the party. Under George W Bush, the right-wingers have scored an important victory in getting Congress to pass a ban on "partial birth" abortions.
