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Simple English definitions for legal terms

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

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A quick definition of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) was a court case that helped define the power of the federal government and its relationship with state governments. The case was about whether the federal government had the power to create a bank and whether states could tax that bank. The Supreme Court decided that the federal government did have the power to create a bank and that states could not tax it. The Court said that even though the Constitution did not specifically say that Congress could create a bank, it was still allowed because of the Necessary and Proper Clause. This clause says that Congress can pass any laws that are necessary and proper to carry out its powers. The Court also said that federal laws are more important than state laws, so Maryland's tax was not allowed.

A more thorough explanation:

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) is a famous court case in the United States that helped define the power of the federal government and its relationship with state governments. The case involved the creation of a federal bank and a tax imposed by the state of Maryland on that bank.

The United States Congress had created the Bank of the United States through a law. The State of Maryland then passed a law that required any bank operating within the state to have a state charter and pay a tax. The state sued McCulloch, who was the cashier of the Baltimore branch of the Bank of the United States, for issuing bank notes without paying the required tax.

The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of McCulloch. Chief Justice John Marshall wrote the opinion for the Court, which had several important conclusions:

  • Congress had the power to create the Bank of the United States.
  • The Bank of the United States had the right to establish branches within the states, and the states could not tax or interfere with the federal government's exercise of its authority.
  • Although the Constitution did not specifically give Congress the power to create a federal bank, Congress had the implied power to do so.
  • Congress had wide discretion to make policy decisions as long as those decisions were plainly adapted to a constitutionally authorized end.
  • The Supremacy Clause in the Constitution makes federal laws supreme to state laws, and thus prohibits states from enacting laws contrary to federal laws.

Overall, the Court found that the authority to create the bank was implied from Congress's Spending and Taxing power in conjunction with the Necessary and Proper Clause. Additionally, the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution makes federal laws supreme to state laws, and thus prohibits states from enacting laws contrary to federal laws. Consequently, Maryland's tax was unconstitutional.

For example, if the federal government creates a law that says all citizens must wear masks in public during a pandemic, a state cannot pass a law that says its citizens do not have to wear masks. The federal law would be supreme and the state law would be unconstitutional.

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Congrats1!
21:15
Miami A, yall I'm so excited I could cry.
21:15
Feel like I can finally stop holding my breath!! Whew!!!
[] baddestbunny
22:16
every time I get accosted by a strange man who follows me around because my male coworkers were too busy talking to walk me back to my car I get closer to saying we need to bring back traditional gender roles
Dkk
22:32
Nice! @Macaque
Dkk
22:32
@Aromatic, Have to guess.
Dkk
22:33
That sucks @Bunny do you have to go to the hospital?
[] baddestbunny
22:40
I said accosted not assaulted
23:35
guys. my notre dame address just went long is this good or bad
1a2b3c4d26z
23:37
Oooooo me too
23:37
omg is this good or bad
Dkk
23:47
Idk if gender roles are gunna fix that then.
23:49
it looks like most people who applied in october last cycle didn't get a decision until january... does it even mean anything that our addresses went long??
hows ED 2 compared to ED 1?
Dkk
0:10
No idea
windyMagician
0:34
reporting live to say my ndls address also went long
does it mean anything ^
Dkk
2:21
NDLS and Fordham took a very long time last year. It's good info for people to know.
[] baddestbunny
4:29
let’s get after it boys and girls
Dkk
5:21
I gtg to bed soon.
Dkk
5:22
Big day today. Gunna be a crazy one. I will sleep through the first half.
good morning lsd it is 5 am EST
also jazzy my ndls address went long ages ago i sadly do not think it means anything
my stanford address also went long LOL i think at most it's an indicator it's under review
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
7:44
My berkeley paragraph finally disappeared. I definitely think it is just an indicator that they are actively reviewing files, and does not mean anything about A, WL, or Rs
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
7:46
Also has anyone's date disappeared for W&L? Mine did last night
7:55
@WorthlessAttractiveZombie: mine did yesterday morning
7:56
Oops sorry I meant Vilanova. Mine disappeared last week
soapy
8:48
UMN under review! As predicted, decisions are gonna come out early December
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