1. Supremacy Clause and the Powers of Congress
Articles I and VI

2. Article VI
The Supremacy Clause: Definition & Example - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com
Debts of the US would still be honored
Any laws or treaties made by the US would be the supreme law of the land
Known as the supremacy clause
All Congressional, Judicial, and Executive officials would take an Oath of Affirmation
No religious test would be required

3. Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824
Robert Fulton was given a monopoly to run steamships on New York rivers
He in turn gave part of this monopoly to Aaron Ogden to operate from New York City to Albany
The Federal government gave Thomas Gibbons a license to operate on a route that conflicted with Ogden’s.
Ogden sued Gibbons in a New York court and won

4. Gibbons appealed to the Supreme Court
He claimed the New York grant conflicted with the power of Congress to regulate trade
Federal laws should supersede State laws (Supremacy Clause)
The Supreme Court agreed and overturned the New York decision also added that interstate commerce could only be regulated by the federal government
Effects:Steam navigation expanded and the federal government was stronger

5. McCulloch v. Maryland
The state of Maryland brought an action against James William McCulloch, a cashier in the Maryland branch of the Bank of the United States for not paying a tax the state had imposed on the United States Bank.
Issue
Whether the state of Maryland had the right to tax a federal agency which was properly set up by the United States Congress.

6. Opinion Unanimous decision
Supreme Court ruled - State could not tax a federal bank
The Court said Congress could set up a United States Bank and write laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its constitutional power to coin and regulate money.
The “necessary and proper clause is also known as the elastic clause.