What impact did McCulloch v. Maryland have on state versus federal powers?

The ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland established that federal law is supreme over state law, which is a cornerstone principle of federalism in the United States. The case arose when the state of Maryland attempted to tax the Second Bank of the United States, asserting its power to regulate banking within its borders. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, concluded that the federal government had implied powers that extended beyond those explicitly listed in the Constitution, particularly under the Necessary and Proper Clause.

This decision clarified the relationship between state and federal authority, emphasizing that while states have powers, those powers cannot interfere with valid federal actions taken under its constitutional authority. By affirming the supremacy of federal law, McCulloch v. Maryland firmly established that when federal and state laws conflict, federal law prevails, thus reinforcing the notion of a strong national government operating within a federal system. This ruling laid the groundwork for the expansion of federal powers and further legal interpretations supporting the supremacy of federal law over state legislation.