This guide is intended to briefly summarize the Supreme Court’s current review of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
This week, the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments concerning one of the most contentious pieces of legislation this election cycle: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the PPACA). The three cases that appealed to the Supreme Court have been consolidated for review. Since its inception, the PPACA itself has drawn widespread public attention, and the Supreme Court oral arguments have earned no less hype. One hundred thirty-six amicus briefs have been filed with the Court, breaking the record held by Grutterand Gratz, the two landmark affirmative-action cases from 2003. “Because of the extraordinary public interest in [the PPACA cases],” the Supreme Court has agreed to release the audiotape recordings and unofficial transcripts on the very same day after each proceeding. The recordings and transcripts are available to the general public through the Supreme Court’s website. However, the Court did not grant the media’s request for live coverage, in accordance with its longstanding ban on live audio and video transmission.