SCOTUS case- McCulloch v. Maryland

Decision Year

1819

Important Vocabulary and Definitions

Supremacy clause, Necessary clause, and Implied powers

Constitutional Text (s) and Amendments (s) in Questions

Article Section 8- Allowing congress to have power to make

What are the big issue(s)/Question(s) of the case

Did congress have the authority under the constitution to commission a national bank?
If so, did the state of Maryland have the authority to tax a branch of the national bank operating within its borders?

Describe what happened to make this issue go all the way to the Supreme Court.

The supreme court said that the state could not create laws against the national government. Maryland could not tax the Bank of the United states. (Maryland taxed national bank since it was in their state)

Plaintiff- (1st)
What issues were the plaintiff wanting to resolve?

Creating a national bank is necessary and nothing in the constitution says that Congress can't create a bank and restricting powers.

Defendant- (2nd) Why did the defendant not agree with the plaintiff?

Constitution never said they can establish a national bank. Powers are not delegated to the United States but reserved to the state.

Was it a unanimous vote?

Yes

Majority/Unanimous Opinion

Whether it was constitutional enough to have a national bank. The supreme reached a decision that the state could not interfere with the national bank because of the Supremacy clause.

Explain the Significance of the Ruling

Solidifying the power of congress when necessary or applicable. Supremacy clause states could not interfere with the national government and supreme court.