1. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):
- Recognized that federal laws are supreme to all other laws.
- Held that Congress does have implied powers.
2. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): held that federal law overrules state law in matters affecting more than one state.
3. Worcester v. Georgia (1832): held that only the federal government had the power to regulate Native American affairs.
Explanation:
1. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):
McCulloch v. Maryland was a litigation or court case between the national bank known as The Second Bank of the United States and the state of Maryland with respect to the tax that was imposed on it by the state.
Basically, the state of Maryland passed a legislation to impose taxes on bank notes ($15,000 annually) of any bank that is not chartered in the state of Maryland.
However, James W. McCulloch who was head at the Baltimore branch of the Second Bank objected and refused to pay the tax. Consequently, the appellate court of Maryland ruled that the Second Bank was established unconstitutionally because the federal government is not provided a textual commitment by the constitution to charter a bank.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Marshall ruled that the Federal government of USA has certain implied powers accorded or given to it by the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution but are not explicitly stated therein. Therefore, in McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress can establish a national bank because of its implied powers accorded or given to it by the Necessary and Proper Clause of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States of America.
- Recognized that federal laws are supreme to all other laws.
- Held that Congress does have implied powers.
2. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824):
Gibbons v. Ogden was a Supreme Court case which held that the Congress of the United States of America had authority, jurisdiction and power to regulate any interstate commerce with respect to the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.
In New York city, the state legislature granted a monopoly to Robert R. Livingston and Robert Fulton an exclusive navigation rights or privileges of operating on all New York state waters with boats that are being moved either by steam or fire, for a time frame of thirty (30) years. Aaron Orgedon was the governor.
In Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled that in business disputes, federal law always supercedes state law. It held that the permission granted to the state, New York city was monopolistic and as such was not permitted.
- held that federal law overrules state law in matters affecting more than one state.
3. Worcester v. Georgia (1832):
This was a landmark case (litigation) between Samuel Worcester and the state of Georgia. Georgia passed a criminal statute which prohibited non-native Americans such as the Cherokee Indians from Native American lands.
The Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the state do not have the rights or authority to impose restrictions on Native American lands.
- held that only the federal government had the power to regulate Native American affairs.
