Introduction This document will consider the Affordable Care Act (ACA) law and how all three branches of government are involved in creating and analyzing issues associated with the ACA. Subsequently the document will describe the role of public opinion and pressure groups. Third, this paper will evaluate the concepts of equity, efficiency and effectiveness by showing their role in the law and its passage. This paper will consider the expected effects on cost, quality and access, including discussion of the balance between markets and government. In closing, this paper will highlight the expected effects on Medicare and aging, as well as on Medicaid and the poor. The ACA was signed into law on March 23, 2010, with the intent of offering all U.S. citizens and residents a qualifying health coverage plan. The goal of the law is to expand coverage, control health care costs, and improve the health care delivery system. Three branches of government: Executive branch: The president implements federal laws and recommends new ones, as well as directs national defense and foreign policy, and performs ceremonial duties. The president's powers include running the government, commanding the military, dealing with international leaders, acting as law enforcement chief, and vetoing laws. Legislative branch: Led by Congress, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. The main objective of these two bodies is to make laws. The powers of the House of Representatives include passing laws, issuing spending bills (House), impeaching officials (Senate), and approving treaties (Senate). Judicial branch: Led by the Supreme Court and its primary goal is to interpret the Constitution, review laws, and decide...... middle of document ......idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? sid=1e9c797a-730b-41c7-9b9f-beecbf7644b3%40sessionmgr111&vid=5&hid=116TheCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), What is Medicare? Retrieved: August 2013, https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11306.pdfCourts,” in Health Politics and Policy, 4th edition (James A. Morone, Theodor J. Litman, and Leonard S. Robins, eds. by ., Delmar Cengage Learning, 2008 p. 128) The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (March 26, 2010), Summary of the New Health Care Reform Act, http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/8061 - 021.pdfC(PL111-148)The White House (n.d.), The Legislative Branch, http://www.whitehouse.gov/our-government/legislative-branchWorld Health Organization. Health systems: improving performance. Extract from World Health Report: 2000. From: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs323/en/index.html. 11/22/2012.