McCulloch v Maryland, EXPLAINED [AP Gov Required Supreme Court Cases]

Summary

In the video, the Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland is explored, focusing on the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States. Maryland imposed a tax on the bank, arguing that Congress lacked the power to establish it. The Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled unanimously in favor of McCulloch, upholding the bank's constitutionality through the Necessary and Proper Clause. This case solidified the supremacy of federal law over state law and has been a key precedent in defining federalism and the balance of power between federal and state governments.

Takeaways

• 📕 McCulloch v. Maryland is a landmark Supreme Court case discussed in the AP Government curriculum.
• 📝 In 1816, Congress chartered the Second Bank of the United States, a federal bank that attempted to establish branches in several states, including Maryland.
• 📱 Maryland's legislature was unhappy with the federal bank's presence and passed a law imposing a significant tax on any bank not chartered by the state.
• 💵 The cashier of the Baltimore branch of the bank refused to pay the tax, leading to a legal battle that reached the Supreme Court.
• 💲 Maryland argued that the establishment of a national bank was unconstitutional as there was no explicit mention of such power in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.
• 💵 McCulloch's lawyers contended that the bank was constitutional under the Necessary and Proper Clause, which allows Congress to make laws necessary for executing its powers.
• 📱 The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled unanimously in favor of McCulloch, affirming the constitutionality of the bank based on the Necessary and Proper Clause.
• 💵 The decision established that Congress has the discretion to choose means to execute its powers, as long as they are not prohibited by the Constitution and uphold its spirit.
• 💲 The case solidified the supremacy of federal laws over state laws, setting a precedent for the balance of power between the federal government and the states.
• 💵 The ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland has been a significant precedent in later court decisions regarding federalism and the balance of power between states and the federal government.

Q & A

What was the main issue in McCulloch v. Maryland?

The main issue was whether the state of Maryland could tax a branch of the Second Bank of the United States, a federally chartered bank, without being chartered by the state itself.

What was the Second Bank of the United States?

The Second Bank of the United States was a federal bank established by Congress in 1816 to manage the nation's finances.

Why did Maryland pass a law taxing banks not chartered by the state?

Maryland was not pleased with the presence of the federal bank's branch within its borders and passed a law to tax such banks as a means of resistance.

What was the annual tax imposed on the Bank of Maryland?

The tax was $15,000 per year, which, when adjusted for inflation, is a significant amount of money.

What was the constitutional principle at stake in this case?

The constitutional principle at stake was whether Congress had the power to establish a national bank, which was not explicitly mentioned in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.

What is the 'Necessary and Proper Clause'?

The 'Necessary and Proper Clause', found in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, gives Congress the power to create laws that are necessary for carrying out its enumerated powers.

How did McCulloch's lawyers argue the bank was constitutional?

McCulloch's lawyers argued that the bank was constitutional based on the 'Necessary and Proper Clause', which allows for implied powers not explicitly named in the Constitution.

What was the Supreme Court's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland?

The Supreme Court decided unanimously in favor of McCulloch, stating that the bank was constitutional due to the 'Necessary and Proper Clause'.

Who was the Chief Justice that argued the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland?

Chief Justice John Marshall argued the decision, stating that the bank was constitutional.

What did the decision establish regarding federalism?

The decision established the supremacy of federal laws over state laws, tipping the balance of power in favor of the federal government.

Why is the McCulloch v. Maryland decision significant?

It is significant because it demonstrated the balance of power between the federal government and the states, and it has been a precedent for later courts when deciding on similar issues.

Outlines

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🏛️ McCulloch v. Maryland: Supreme Court Case Overview

This paragraph introduces the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland, a pivotal case in the AP Government curriculum. The case revolves around the establishment of the Second Bank of the United States by Congress in 1816, which was a federal bank. The bank attempted to set up branches in various states, including Maryland. However, Maryland's legislature passed a law imposing a hefty tax on any bank not chartered by the state, which the cashier of the Baltimore branch of the bank refused to pay, leading to a Supreme Court case. The constitutional principle at stake was whether the establishment of a national bank was unconstitutional since the power to create a bank wasn't explicitly mentioned in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.

📜 The Necessary and Proper Clause Argument

The argument presented by McCulloch's lawyers was based on the 'necessary and proper clause' of Article 1, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to make laws necessary for executing its explicit powers. This clause implies that Congress has the authority to create laws that are not explicitly named but are needed to uphold its explicit powers. The term for these non-explicit powers is 'implied powers'. Chief Justice John Marshall's decision was unanimous in favor of McCulloch, arguing that the bank was constitutional due to the necessary and proper clause, and that Congress has the discretion to choose means to execute its powers as long as they are not prohibited by the Constitution.

🏛️ The Supremacy of National Laws

The decision in McCulloch v. Maryland established the supremacy of national laws over state laws. Chief Justice Marshall stated that powers granted to Congress are given by the people of the United States, not a single state, and therefore state laws cannot override federal laws. This case demonstrated the balance of power between the federal government and the states, tipping the scale in favor of the federal government. The case has been a precedent for later courts when deciding on the balance of power, emphasizing that federal law supersedes state law when there is a conflict.

📚 The Significance of McCulloch v. Maryland

The paragraph concludes by discussing the importance of the McCulloch v. Maryland decision, particularly in the context of federalism and the balance of power between federal and state governments. The case is highlighted as a key precedent that has influenced subsequent legal decisions regarding the distribution of power. The presenter also provides a resource for students studying for AP Government, offering a review packet to help them excel in their studies.

Keywords

💡McCulloch v. Maryland

McCulloch v. Maryland is a landmark Supreme Court case that solidified the concept of implied powers and the supremacy of federal law over state law. The case involved the constitutionality of a federal bank and the power of Congress to establish it. It's central to the video's theme as it sets a precedent for federal authority and the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.

💡Supreme Court Cases

Supreme Court Cases are legal disputes that are heard by the highest court in the United States. They are significant because they often set legal precedents and interpret the Constitution. In the video, the focus is on McCulloch v. Maryland as one of the required cases for the AP Government curriculum.

💡AP Government

AP Government refers to the Advanced Placement course in the United States that focuses on American government and politics. The video is aimed at students studying for this course, emphasizing the importance of understanding key Supreme Court cases like McCulloch v. Maryland.

💡Second Bank of the United States

The Second Bank of the United States was a federally chartered bank established in 1816. In the video, it is central to the case of McCulloch v. Maryland, as the bank's establishment and taxation by the state of Maryland led to the Supreme Court case.

💡Necessary and Proper Clause

The Necessary and Proper Clause, found in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, grants Congress the power to make laws that are necessary and proper for executing its powers. This clause is pivotal in the video's narrative, as it was used to argue for the constitutionality of the bank.

💡Implied Powers

Implied Powers are those not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are necessary for the federal government to function effectively. The video discusses how the Necessary and Proper Clause implies these powers, which was a key argument in McCulloch v. Maryland.

💡Constitutionality

Constitutionality refers to the adherence of laws or actions to a country's constitution. The video discusses the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States and how the Supreme Court ruled on this matter.

💡Chief Justice John Marshall

Chief Justice John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States when the McCulloch v. Maryland case was decided. His decision in the case is highlighted in the video as a critical moment in U.S. constitutional law.

💡Federalism

Federalism is the concept of sharing power between a central government and individual state governments. The video uses McCulloch v. Maryland to illustrate the balance of power, tipping it in favor of federal authority.

💡Supremacy of National Laws

The Supremacy of National Laws, as discussed in the video, refers to the principle that federal laws take precedence over state laws in the event of a conflict. This principle was established and reinforced through the McCulloch v. Maryland decision.

💡Taxation

Taxation in the context of the video refers to the levy imposed by the state of Maryland on the Second Bank of the United States. The bank's refusal to pay this tax led to the legal dispute that became the McCulloch v. Maryland case.

Highlights

Introduction to McCulloch vs Maryland, a pivotal Supreme Court case in the AP Government curriculum.

Background on the Second Bank of the United States, chartered by Congress in 1816.

Maryland's imposition of a tax on the Baltimore branch of the federal bank, which was not chartered by the state.

The cashier of the Baltimore branch's refusal to pay the tax, leading to the case reaching the Supreme Court.

Maryland's argument that the establishment of a national bank was unconstitutional.

Mcculloch's lawyers' argument based on the Necessary and Proper Clause of Article 1, Section 8.

Explanation of the Necessary and Proper Clause and its role in justifying the bank's constitutionality.

The concept of 'implied powers' not explicitly named in Article 1, Section 8.

Unanimous decision in favor of McCulloch, with Chief Justice John Marshall's influential opinion.

Marshall's assertion that the bank was constitutional due to the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Marshall's reasoning that the national legislature should have discretion over means to execute its powers.

Establishment of the supremacy of national laws over state laws in cases of conflict.

Implication that state laws cannot override federal laws when they are in conflict.

The case's significance in demonstrating the balance of power between federal and state governments.

Mcculloch vs Maryland's role as a precedent in future court decisions regarding federalism.

The impact of the decision on the balance of power, tipping it in favor of the federal government.

Resources offered for AP Government students, including a review packet and playlist of required cases.

Transcripts

hey there and welcome back to heimler's

history in this video we're looking at

another one of your required supreme

court cases in the ap government

curriculum and that means it's time to

look at mcculloch versus maryland so if

you're ready to get them brain cows milk

supremacy style then let's get to it

okay first let's get the facts of the

case in 1816 congress chartered the

second bank of the united states which

in case you can't discern from the name

was a federal bank furthermore this

federal bank attempted to establish

branches in several states including

baltimore maryland to which the maryland

legislature said big mistake so maryland

was not too pleased to have this branch

of the federal bank in its borders and

so the state legislature passed a law

saying that any bank in maryland which

was not officially chartered by maryland

would be subject to a 15 000 a year tax

which when being adjusted for inflation

is roughly a metric buttload of money so

the cashier of the baltimore branch of

the national bank could see the

injustice in this tax and refused to pay

it and the case went all the way up to

the supreme court so now let's have a

look at the constitutional principle at

stake in this case maryland argued that

the establishment of a national bank was

unconstitutional because nowhere in

article 1 section 8 did it say that

congress had the power to create a bank

and on that count they were right it

doesn't say anything about that but

mcculloch's lawyers argued that the bank

was constitutional on account of the

necessary and proper clause which was

explicitly stated in article 1 section 8

and it says this the congress shall have

power to make all laws which shall be

necessary and proper for carrying into

execution the foregoing powers and all

other powers vested by this constitution

in the government of the united states

or in any department or officer thereof

in other words congress is given

explicit powers in article 1 section 8

like the power to declare war or

regulate interstate commerce for example

and the necessary improper clause gives

congress the power to create other laws

which are not explicitly named in

article 1 section 8 but that need to be

passed in order that the explicit powers

can be upheld if you want a term for

those kinds of non-explicit powers and i

know you do these are called implied

powers the powers are not named but they

are implied so what was the decision

well it doesn't appear that there was

much of a fight over this one since the

decision was unanimous in favor of

mcculloch chief justice john marshall

argued in his decision that the bank was

in fact constitutional on account of the

authority of the necessary and proper

clause and he said it this way we think

that the sound construction of the

constitution must allow to the national

legislature that discretion with respect

to the means by which the powers it

confers are to be carried into execution

which will enable that body to perform

the high duties assigned to it in the

manner most beneficial to the people let

the end be legitimate let it be within

the scope of the constitution and all

means which are appropriate which are

plainly adapted to that end which are

not prohibited but consist with the

letter in the spirit of the constitution

are constitutional in other words if a

power is not prohibited by the

constitution and the law in question

upholds the spirit of the constitution

then it stands furthermore this case

established the supremacy of national

laws over against state laws and listen

to how marshall says it the powers

granted to congress are not given by the

people of a single state they are given

by the people of the united states to a

government whose laws made in pursuance

of the constitution are declared to be

supreme consequently the people of a

single state cannot confer sovereignty

which will extend over them in other

words whenever a state law is in

conflict with a federal law

federal law wins so why does this

decision matter well it matters mostly

because of what it demonstrated about

federalism the balance of power between

the federal government and the states

remember that in the united states

versus lopez the court tipped the

balance in favor of the states in this

case the balance is decidedly tipped in

favor of the federal government and ever

since this decision was handed down

mcculloch vs maryland has been a

precedent to which later courts would

return when deciding on the balance of

power between states and the federal

government okay that's what you need to

know about mcculloch versus maryland for

ap government here's a playlist right

over here for all the other required

cases in case you're into that kind of

thing if you want help getting an a in

your class and a five on your exam in

may then you can click right here and

grab my review packet so go ahead and

subscribe if you're not already and i

will see you in the next one heimler out