What did the McCullough v. Madison case uphold the right of Congress to do?

The McCulloch v. Maryland case upheld the right of Congress to charter a national bank, establishing an important precedent in the interpretation of the necessary and proper clause of the Constitution. In this landmark decision in 1819, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had the power to create a national bank, even though this specific power was not explicitly stated in the Constitution. The ruling confirmed that the federal government possessed powers beyond those specifically enumerated in the Constitution, as long as they were deemed necessary to execute its constitutional responsibilities.

This case highlighted the principle of implied powers, meaning that the federal government could take actions that were not explicitly outlined in the Constitution if they were within the scope of its responsibilities. In the context of the early Republic, establishing a national bank was considered crucial for managing the nation's finances and regulating the economy. This decision also reinforced the supremacy of federal legislation over state laws, as Maryland's attempt to impose a tax on the national bank was deemed unconstitutional.

While other options like regulating interstate commerce, imposing income taxes, and declaring war are significant powers held by Congress, they are not the primary focus of the McCulloch v. Maryland case, making the chartering of a national bank the correct choice in this context.