U.S. Government & Civics

Strongsville High School

Obama proposed health care reform in a joint session of Congress in Feb. 2009

Health care summits were heldObama signs the Health Care bill into law in

March, 2010

Senate Finance Committee holds hearingsSenate Health,Education, Labor and Pension

Committee recommends House Committee on Energy and Commerce

vote to send bill to full HouseDiscussions over several monthsNovember, House passes its versionDecember, Senate passes its version

March 2010, bill sent to President Obama for signature

Challenges are made to the validity of the law11th Circuit rules that parts are

unconstitutionalUS Court of Appeals rules that the law is

unconstitutionalSupreme Court agrees to hear arguments

SC extends the one hour oral arguments to 3 days and more that 5 hours of arguments

Issues addressed by the Court:1. Does the Anti-Injunction Act apply (an injunction is a court order to stop):

9-0 ruling that it does not apply

2. Can Congress compel an individual to buy a product? -government argued that, under the Congress’ Commerce Clause power, it is valid-Court ruled that ACA’s individual mandate unconstitutional 5-43. Government argued that the mandate could be upheld due to Congress’ power to “lay and collect taxes”-Court ruled that requiring a person to pay a penalty is reasonable

Supreme Court upheld a law proposed by the Executive Branch, passed (narrowly) by the Legislative Branch

Justice John Roberts stated: “It is not our role to forbid it or pass upon its wisdom” rather, because Congress is elected by the people, the Court should uphold, whenever possible, legislation