For many, the Supreme Court is not the most interesting thing to read but with two recent major rulings out, here is everything you need to know:
The Supreme Court is in D.C and is the highest ruling court in the U.S. The Supreme Court takes on around 75-85 cases a year. The majority of the cases are heard on appeal from the lower courts. Basically what the Supreme Court Judges decide, goes.
Just on Friday the 26th of June, they ruled on gay marriage. They told all 50 states that they can no longer ban same-sex marriage. This means that no matter what state you are in, you can head to the nearest courthouse and get hitched to someone as the same sex as you. This is huge, people. Even Obama was quoted as saying that “our union is little more perfect”. This ruling establishes a new civil right and giving gay rights advocates a victory that they’ve worked so hard for. The ruling was 5-4, and good ole’ Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority with the four liberal justices.
Now try to imagine a decade from now, gay marriage will no longer be stigmatized. Your children will grow up in a country where gay rights are accepted. To think that this ruling is forever going to change society and how many perceive homosexuality is astounding. This is a huge win for the future of the United States and no one should take for granted that they got to experience this during their lifetime. #lovewins
The next monumental case is King V. Burwell, which grants everyone in this great nation health care; no biggie. This ruling came out (no pun intended) just the day before the gay marriage ruling. This one, folks, is a little more complicated. Basically, President Obama’s health care law allows the federal government to provide nationwide tax subsidies to help poor and middle-class people buy health insurance. This ruling was 6 to 3 which indicates that the Affordable Care Act will survive after Obama leaves office. Because of this ruling, you still get to shop for healthcare plans on an individual basis. This covers 85% of Americans… so that’s like a lot of people. The ruling ensures that everyone can still get their healthcare! If you're still on your parent’s insurance, which I’m sure many of us millennials are, this still affects you. So let's give it up to the Supreme Court.
Yes, government, especially court cases, can be pretty boring and interest little of our generation. But remember all of this is forever changing our country, so why not be/stay informed?
