Poll: Is Affordable Care Act Unconstitutional?

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act this week.

The central issue being considered by the court is whether Congress' power to regulate commerce means that it can mandate people to buy health insurance, The Atlantic reported.

The court could rule the mandate unconstitutional and throw out part or all of the Affordable Care Act, referred to by opponents as Obamacare, or uphold the act in its entirety, The New York Times reported.

The Weekly Standard reported that the individual mandate goes beyond regulating commerce and instead compels commerce by forcing individuals to purchase something.

The idea behind the mandate, as NPR reported, was that it would reduce health care costs by broadening the base of those paying premiums and by reducing costs associated with the uninsured who resort to seeking treatment in emergency rooms.

The Atlantic pointed out that although the act mandates health insurance for all, it provides the option for those under 30 to purchase bare-bones catastrophic insurance. The magazine also stated that the same option is available for those over 30 who show financial hardship.

The Atlantic stated that the provisions in the law to minimize the financial burden on individuals was effectively a "limiting principle" for the legislation.

Tell us whether you think the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional and why or why not in a comment below.