explain the debate in McCulloch v. Maryland and the final decision in the case. why was the decision significant?
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1792-1850/1819/1819_0
explain the debate involved in gibbons v. Ogden and the final decision.
The debate in McCulloch v. Maryland centered around the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States, as well as the issue of the federal government's power to establish a national bank. The state of Maryland attempted to impose a tax on the Baltimore branch of the bank, arguing that the federal government did not have the authority to create such a bank. The final decision in the case was reached by the Supreme Court in 1819.
Chief Justice John Marshall delivered the opinion of the Court, in which the Court upheld the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States and declared the Maryland tax unconstitutional. The Court's decision had two key aspects:
1. The "Necessary and Proper Clause": The Court held that the federal government had the authority to create the Second Bank of the United States under the "Necessary and Proper Clause" of the Constitution. The Clause grants Congress the power to pass laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers. Marshall argued that the establishment of the bank fell within Congress's implied powers and was necessary to carry out its express powers, such as borrowing money and regulating commerce.
2. Federal supremacy: The Court concluded that the Maryland tax on the bank was unconstitutional because it interfered with the functioning of the federal government and violated the principle of federal supremacy. Marshall argued that state governments could not impede or interfere with federal institutions or actions that were within the scope of federal authority.
The decision was significant for several reasons:
1. Expanded federal power: The ruling significantly broadened the interpretation of Congress's implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause. It established the principle that the federal government has the authority to take actions that are reasonably related to the exercise of its express powers.
2. National supremacy: The decision strengthened the idea of federal supremacy over state governments. It established that state laws that obstructed or interfered with valid exercises of federal power could be struck down by the courts.
3. Stable national currency: The decision solidified the role of the national bank and contributed to the establishment of a stable national currency. It provided a more stable economic environment by affirming the federal government's power to create and regulate a central banking system.
Overall, McCulloch v. Maryland was a landmark case that expanded federal power, reinforced the principle of federal supremacy, and helped shape the relationship between state and federal governments in the United States.