The Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland resulted in one of the most important decisions in the history of the United States. In 1819, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress has implied powers in addition to those specified in the Constitution. This decision was based on a section of the Constitution called the Necessary and Proper Clause, which gives Congress power "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper" to carry out its other powers. The court also ruled that when federal and state powers conflict, federal powers prevail. In this book, authors Pettifor and Petit present a thorough discussion of the McCulloch decision, along with its legal and historical implications. Photographs and a Questions for Discussion section add to the reader's understanding of a potentially difficult subject. Book jacket.

Bonnie Pettifor, a former teacher, is now an acquisitions editor in academic publishing. She has a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. in education from Washington University in St. Louis Charles Petit runs a private law practice. He has B.A.s in English and Chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis and a juris doctorate from the University of Illinois