It's a picture of government on the loose, or pouring mercy on the needy.

It's the Affordable Care Act, alias health reform, alias ObamaCare.

Congress passed it in March 2010. In March 2012, the Supreme Court heard arguments for and against the law. Court watchers predicted a ruling in June, so now South Dakota and the nation are waiting.The nine justices examined several issues, including the law's individual mandate, a proviso that would force most American citizens to buy health insurance or else pay a penalty. About 70,000 South Dakotans do not carry health insurance, according to Market Decisions research for the governor's office.

A look at what the U.S. Supreme Court will consider in its ruling on the Affordable Health Care Act:

1. Are the lawsuits premature?
The court must first decide whether the lawsuits challenging the law are premature, because of an 1867 law that says lawsuits targeting new taxes must wait until the taxes are imposed.

2. Can Congress compel citizens to buy insurance with the individual mandate? The most closely watched argument is whether Congress exceeded its constitutional authority with the health care law's requirement that most individuals either buy insurance or pay a fee.

3. Can the rest of the law survive if part of it is struck down?
If the court strikes down part of the law, it must decide whether the rest of the law still can survive.

4. Can Congress force states to expand Medicaid by threatening to withhold money?
The nine justices will separately decide whether Congress can use the threat of withholding money to coerce states into expanding Medicaid coverage, a crucial issue that hasn't gained as much attention as the individual mandate.