Supreme Court Gay Marriage Cases, Affirmative Action, Voting Rights Under Consideration As Court Begins New Term

The Supreme Court began a new term on Monday, starting deliberations over same-sex marriage, voting rights, and stem cell research that will have far-reaching consequences for millions of Americans.

"On March 26, the court will hear at least an hour's worth of arguments in Hollingsworth v. Perry, which deals with California's Proposition 8, the law banning same-sex marriage in the state," said CBS News. "The next day, the court will hear at least an hour's worth of arguments in United States v. Windsor, which deals with the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)."

Proposition 8 is a California law passed in 2008 via ballot initiative that made same-sex marriage illegal after the California Supreme Court legalized it. The Supreme Court could overturn Proposition 8, which would legalize same-sex marriage in the state, or it could issue a ruling that would affect all 50 states.

In addition, the Court could let Prop 8 stand, changing nothing.

DOMA prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, even those performed legally. The Obama administration has stopped defending the law, so conservative groups have stepped in argue in front of the Court.

"I do not expect the Supreme Court to find in the near term that there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage," said Barney Frank, former Democratic representative from Massachusetts, who was the first openly gay member of Congress. "And that's not what the LGBT groups are asking for. We're asking for a recognition by the federal government of state marriages."

"By striking down DOMA, the Supreme Court would likely say that the federal government has no business requiring states to discriminate against certain couples," wrote Sam Baker of the Washington political publication The Hill.

"Democrats slammed House Republicans for continuing to fund the legal group that is defending DOMA before the Supreme Court," wrote Baker. "The House's rules for the 113th Congress reauthorize the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) -- the organization through which Speaker John Boehner has defended DOMA in the courts."

BLAG has already spent $1.7 million defending DOMA, an expenditure Democrats say is unconscionable.

Voting rights also comes up this term.

"The court will also hear a case challenging a key provision of the Voting Rights Act," writes Ariane de Vogue at ABC News. "Section 5 of the law says that certain states with a history of voter discrimination must clear any changes to their election laws with federal officials in Washington."

And the Supreme court declined to hear a case involving stem cells research. According to NBC News, "The decision leaves in place President Obama's 2009 executive order expanding research on stem cells taken from human embryos, which many scientists say has the potential to produce breakthroughs in treatment of numerous conditions, particularly spinal cord injuries, diabetes and Parkinson's disease."