Which United States Supreme Court decision was based on the Necessary and Proper Clause?

The decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) is a landmark case that is fundamentally tied to the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution. This clause, found in Article I, Section 8, grants Congress the power to make all laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers. In this case, the Supreme Court upheld the authority of Congress to establish a national bank, asserting that creating a bank was a reasonable means to execute its fiscal responsibilities.

This ruling expanded the interpretation of federal powers, affirming that the government could use implied powers in addition to those explicitly enumerated in the Constitution. The Court, under Chief Justice John Marshall, emphasized that the federal government has broad powers to operate effectively, thus establishing a precedent for federal authority over states when there is a conflict. This case is a key example of how the Necessary and Proper Clause can be applied to support the implementation of federal powers beyond those explicitly listed in the Constitution.

In contrast, the other cases mentioned do not primarily involve the Necessary and Proper Clause. For instance, West Virginia v. Barnette dealt with free speech and the First Amendment, Plessy v. Ferguson focused on the legality of racial segregation under the Equal Protection Clause,