Question re: abortion issue/Palin/etc?

Question

I'm 13 and can't vote, but am still learning about politics and I am wondering about the abortion issue. Everyone is talking about Palin being staunchly pro-life, but what can she really do? Doesn't the Supreme Court have to overturn roe vs wade and how much influence does the President (and in her case, the VP) have over the Supreme Court (like gettting them in past the Congress)? What would they do to roe vs wade? Give power back to the individual states?

Will abortion ever be completely illegale?

Answer 1

You are really smart and correct. Good for you!  I don't think abortion will ever be illegal again.

Answer 2

While a McCain / Palin administration could not directly overturn Roe v. Wade, they could initiate policies which would have a major impact on how the laws regarding abortion are enforced.  A strict or relaxed interpretation of the law can have a major impact on the final result.  

This is a real power because the executive branch appoints all of the leaders of the federal administrative agencies, including those which provide funding to states for various programs which may or may not include abortion and "planned parenthood" facilities.  Also, as other answerers have stated, the administration appoints Supreme Court justices.

Overall though, abortion will never be completely illegal again because there are too many people who believe it should be legal.

Answer 3

nope

Answer 4

Wow, I'm impressed that a 13 year old has such a good grasp on the structure of the branches of government.

And you are correct. The supreme court (judicial branch) would have to overturn Roe v. Wade, however, the president of the United States gets to appoint the Supreme Court Justices. There are several really old people on there right now, so if anybody dies or retires in the next four to eight years, then the president will get to pick the new justices. Then a new case would have to be filed that would give the supreme court the opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade. They can't just do it whenever they want.

A lot of "if's" as you can see, so it is unlikely that the status quo will change anytime soon.