Changes

In November 2008, Barack Obama was elected president and the Democratic Party won large majorities in Congress.  They pushed into law the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," also known by its critics as "ObamaCare".  This law imposes a penalty on working adults who do not purchase health insurance, making it the first time that Congress has penalized people unless they bought something.  There are many legal challenges to the law and Republicans vow to repeal it if they win back control of Congress and the presidency.  In 2010, Republicans did win a landslide in the House of Representatives, but could not win a majority in the Senate.  In 2012, the chances of Republicans also winning back the Senate are high (note that only a third of the Senate is elected every two years, while every seat in the House is elected).

In November 2008, Barack Obama was elected president and the Democratic Party won large majorities in Congress.  They pushed into law the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," also known by its critics as "ObamaCare".  This law imposes a penalty on working adults who do not purchase health insurance, making it the first time that Congress has penalized people unless they bought something.  There are many legal challenges to the law and Republicans vow to repeal it if they win back control of Congress and the presidency.  In 2010, Republicans did win a landslide in the House of Representatives, but could not win a majority in the Senate.  In 2012, the chances of Republicans also winning back the Senate are high (note that only a third of the Senate is elected every two years, while every seat in the House is elected).

In 2009 the Democrats enacted a "Stimulus" economic packages, which consisted of hundreds of billions of dollars in new federal spending, throwing the nation into enormous debt.  Republicans have made this a political issue and seek cuts in federal spending and the enormous federal debt.

In 2009 the Democrats enacted a "Stimulus" economic packages, which consisted of hundreds of billions of dollars in new federal spending, throwing the nation into enormous debt.  Then President Obama and the Democrats passed the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," better known as "ObamaCare", in March 2010, to compel nearly all Americans to purchase health insurance.  Every Republican voted against this legislation, and in the "midterm elections" in November 2010 the Republican Party won in a landslide in the House of Representatives and the state legislatures.  The Democrats held on to control of the U.S. Senate, and Obama won reelection in 2012, but Republicans continue to have a majority in the House of Representatives and are expected to control that chamber for the remainder of this decade.

== The Supreme Court ==

== The Supreme Court ==