What does McCulloch v Maryland signify about the relationship between national and state governments?

The case of McCulloch v. Maryland is a landmark decision that underscores the principle of federal supremacy. The ruling established that the national government holds authority over state governments when the two are in conflict, particularly in matters pertaining to the exercise of powers enumerated in the Constitution.

In this case, the Supreme Court determined that Congress had the authority to create a national bank under the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution. Furthermore, when Maryland attempted to tax the national bank, the Court ruled that states do not have the power to impede legitimate activities of the federal government. This clearly illustrates that the Constitution places ultimate authority with the national government, reinforcing the idea that the federal government is supreme over the states when there is a conflict between state law and federal law. This ruling established a vital precedent for the relationship between the national and state governments, asserting the dominance of federal authority in interpreting the powers granted to it by the Constitution.