Florida Civics Literacy (FCLE) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The case that reinforced the federal government's authority to operate independently of state interference is McCulloch v. Maryland. This landmark Supreme Court case, decided in 1819, established two important principles: the supremacy of the federal government over the states and the implied powers of Congress.

In this case, the state of Maryland attempted to impose a tax on the Second Bank of the United States, which had been created by Congress. The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government had the constitutional authority to establish a national bank, citing the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution. This ruling affirmed that federal laws take precedence over state laws, thus ensuring that states cannot interfere with the legitimate operations of the federal government.

The other cases listed address different aspects of law and governance. For instance, U.S. v. Nixon dealt with executive privilege and the limits on presidential power, while Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review, allowing courts to invalidate laws that are unconstitutional. Miranda v. Arizona focused on the rights of individuals in police custody and the requirement for law enforcement to inform suspects of their rights. These cases are significant in their own contexts but do not specifically pertain to the federal government's ability to function without state interference as established in McCullo