Question

1. Discuss the TWO major questions posed in the landmark case McCulloch v. Maryland in 1819. Next, what were the TWO constitutional provisions used by the Supreme Court’s majority in the McCulloch v. Maryland decision to justify its opinion. Lastly, explain how the McCulloch case expanded the power of the federal government in relation to the states.

Answer 1

Question:

Discuss the TWO major questions posed in the landmark case McCulloch v. Maryland in 1819. Next, what were the TWO constitutional provisions used by the Supreme Court’s majority in the McCulloch v. Maryland decision to justify its opinion. Lastly, explain how the McCulloch case expanded the power of the federal government in relation to the states.

Answer:

A.

The two major questions posed in the landmark case McCulloch v. Maryland in 1819 are as follows:

Quest 1: Did congress have the authority to establish the bank under the Constitution?

Quest 2: Did the Maryland law unconstitutionally interfere with congressional powers?

Background of the Case:

In 1791 the Congress passed the first charter of the Bank of the United States granting it power to operate for twenty years and in 1816, the Congress passed the Second Charter and the national bank was re-established. The Government of Maryland did not want a national bank and did not want a branch in Maryland. Nevertheless, the branch opened in 1817. The State of Maryland decided to tax the Baltimore Branch of the Bank of US, however, the cashier refused to pay the tax. In response, the State of Maryland sued him.

Decision of the Trial Court and the State Supreme Court:

Both the Trial Court and the State Supreme Court agreed that the Baltimore Branch will have to pay tax to the State of Maryland.

Appeal to the US Supreme Court in 1819 and the Two Constitutional Questions:

The Baltimore Branch Cashier appealed to the Supreme Court of United States and the above two mentioned questions came up in front of the Supreme Court.

Wherein, these two constitutional questions were framed to be answered by the Supreme Court. And, the Supreme Court had to solve the case as its outcome was most likely to affect the entire country and it had a question regarding the Constitution. The Supreme Court had to decide whether the Federal Government has the authority to establish the bank according to the Constitution of the United States and whether the State Government has the power to interfere with Federal Government powers.

B.

The TWO constitutional provisions used by the Supreme Court’s majority in the McCulloch v. Maryland decision to justify its opinion are as follows:

1. The Congress has an implied power granted by the Constitution, to establish a national bank.

2. The Constitution grants Congress the explicit power to levy (or collect) taxes and regulate currency.

C.

The McCulloch case expanded the power of the federal government in relation to the states. Because, this case enhanced federal power and gave the federal government ways to achieve the responsibilities that were given in the constitution.

It explained that ‘Federalism’ is the institutional arrangement in which power is distributed between the two relatively independent levels of government: the federal government and the state governments. The Supreme Court also stated that:

1. The Federal government has powers that are not listed in the constitution.

2. The Federalism is a system of shared power between state governments and the national government, but this decision established and reaffirmed that the United States has a strong central government and that federal law has authority over state law.

CONCLUSION:

This case ensured that the original intention of the Constitution was to make a strong central government and guaranteed that the states cannot interfere with powers given to the federal government.