October Term 2020 · Docket 19-840
Does the Affordable Care Act mandate remain valid after the penalty dropped to zero?
Texas argues the mandate is an unconstitutional command. California argues it is a lawful choice.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Michael Mongan argued the mandate creates a choice. He cited the tax provision as evidence of this choice.
Paul Hawkins argued the mandate is a command. He cited statutory language emphasizing the mandate's essential role.
Elizabeth Verrilli argued the statute requires nothing. She noted Congress refused to repeal the law in 2017.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 37-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on the individual mandate. Texas claims it forces people to buy insurance. California claims it offers a choice between buying insurance or paying a tax.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 37-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 10, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
What each side wants
Texas wants the Court to strike down the individual mandate.
California wants the Court to uphold the individual mandate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 37-21
What each side says
Texas argues the mandate is a command to purchase insurance.
California argues the mandate creates a choice between insurance and a tax.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 37-21
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if failing to buy insurance violates the law.
Justice Thomas asked about consequences for violating a command without a penalty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-53
Why it matters
The mandate affects millions of Americans. It determines whether the government can require health insurance purchases. The outcome shapes federal power over individual economic choices.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 37-21
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-53
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 37-21
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.