Rhode Island Question 14, Constitutional Right to Life and Abortion Prohibited Amendment (1986)
| Rhode Island Question 14 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 4, 1986 | |
| Topic Abortion | |
| Status | |
| Type Constitutional convention referral | Origin Constitutional convention |
Rhode Island Question 14, the Constitutional Right to Life and Abortion Prohibited Amendment, was on the ballot in Rhode Island as a convention referred constitutional amendment on November 4, 1986. The ballot measure was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported this constitutional amendment to: • establish an "inalienable and paramount right to life" for "human beings, including their unborn offspring at every stage of their biological development beginning with fertilization" in the Rhode Island Constitution; • prohibit abortion to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution, except to prevent the death of a pregnant woman; and • prohibit the use of public monies to fund abortions. |
A "no" vote opposed this constitutional amendment to establish an "inalienable and paramount right to life" for "human beings, including their unborn offspring..." in the state constitution; prohibit abortion to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution; and prohibit the use of public monies to fund abortions. |
Overview
What would Question 14 have changed about abortion policies in Rhode Island?
In 1986, the Rhode Island Constitution did not include language about abortion. Question 14 sought to add language to the state constitution establishing an "inalienable and paramount right to life" for "all human beings, including their unborn offspring at every stage of their biological development beginning with fertilization ..." Question 14 would have prohibited abortion, except to prevent the death of a pregnant woman, to the extent allowed under the U.S. Constitution. The ballot measure would have also prohibited the use of public monies to fund abortions.[1]
The Rhode Island Constitutional Convention of 1986 proposed Question 14. "The people in favor of this want to send the Supreme Court a message," said Kevin McKenna, president of the 100-person Constitutional Convention.[2]
On November 4, 1986, 65.81% voted to reject the ballot measure. Mary Ann Sorrentino, executive director of Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island, responded to the results, "We’re delighted, we’re gratified, we’re exhausted but we’re elated." Kevin McKenna said, "This is only a temporary setback. We’re going to campaign for respect for human life for the rest of our lives, if it takes it. We’re a slow train moving down the track and we eventually will win."[3]
Election results
|
Rhode Island Question 14 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 102,633 | 34.19% | ||
|
|
197,520 | 65.81% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[1]
| “ |
To the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution, shall all persons, including their unborn offspring, without regard to age, health, function or condition of dependency, be endowed with an inalienable and paramount right to life; and to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution, shall abortion be prohibited, except that justified medical procedures to prevent the death of a pregnant woman shall be permitted? Shall the use of government monies to fund abortions be prohibited by the Constitution?[4] |
” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Rhode Island Constitution
The ballot measure would have added a new article, Article XVI: The Paramount Right to Life, to the Rhode Island Constitution. The following underlined text would have been added:[5][6]
Note: Use your mouse to scroll over the text below to see the full text.
Article XVI. The Paramount Right to Life.
Section 1.
All human beings, including their unborn offspring at every stage of their biological development beginning with fertilization, are persons who are protected in their inalienable and paramount right to life, without regard to age, health, function, or condition of dependency.
Section 2.
No unborn person shall be deprived of life by any person; provided, however, that nothing in this amendment shall prohibit the justified use of only those medical procedures required to prevent the death of either the pregnant woman or her unborn offspring as long as every reasonable effort was made to preserve the life of each.
Section 3.
No governmental funds from whatever source and whether held in trust or otherwise, shall be appropriated or expended for the performance, funding, facilitation, or promotion of induced abortion.
Section 4.
Until the unborn person is protected or allowed to be protected as a person with regard to the right to life under the Constitution of the United States either by its amendment or by federal judicial decision, conduct that is in conflict with sections 1, 2 or 3 of this article is covered by those sections only if the state is permitted by that Constitution to regulate that conduct.
Section 5.
The provisions of this article shall be enforced to the maximum extent consistent with the supreme law of the land.
Section 6.
If any part, clause or section of this article shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remaining provisions, parts or sections shall not be affected.[4]
Support
The Coalition for Question 14 led the campaign in support of the ballot measure.[3]
Supporters
Individuals
Arguments
Opposition
Stop 14 led the campaign in opposition to the ballot measure.[3]
Opponents
Organizations
Arguments
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Rhode Island Constitution
The Rhode Island Constitutional Convention of 1986 voted to place Resolution 86-00212-A on the ballot as Question 14.[1] In 1984, voters approved a question to hold the state constitutional convention.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rhode Island Constitutional Convention 1986, "Voter's Guide," accessed June 3, 2022
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Abortion a 5-State Ballot Issue," June 29, 1986
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Associated Press, "Propositions ’86: Rhode Islanders Reject Anti-abortion Amendment," November 5, 1986
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Rhode Island State Archives, "Rhode Island Constitutional Convention records (C#00339)," accessed June 3, 2022
- ↑ Rhode Island State Archives, "Right to Life Resolutions, Box 16, Folder 11," June 26, 1986
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