Abortion a big issues for American citizens. The partisan political divide on the abortion issue mirrors the sharp divide in public opinion on the subject. In 2005 the abortion controversy became reinvigorated within two vacancies on the supreme court. Prior to the controversial 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, all fifty states banned abortion, with some exceptions which varied by state: to save the life of the mother, in cases of rape or incest, or if the fetus was deformed. This legislative ban reflected the prevailing public attitude towards abortion. The Roe decision declared most existing state abortion laws unconstitutional based on a "right of privacy" which the court determined to be implied by the bill of rights. This decision ruled out any legislative interference in the first trimester of pregnancy and put limits on what restrictions could be passed on abortions in later stages of pregnancy. Today, the controversy over abortion remains a focus of political debate. A slight majority of voters favor legalizing most abortions. Abortion is generally permitted in most developed countries and prohibited in most underdeveloped countries. America has the most unborn deaths due to abortions.
