In McCulloch v. Maryland, which principle about congressional power is established?

• A. the Constitution's commerce clause gives the national government exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce.
• B. Congress may not act to subject nonconsenting states to lawsuits in state courts.
• C. the national government's authority to require state officials to administer or enforce a federal regulation is limited.
• D. the Constitution's 'necessary and proper' clause permits Congress to take actions when it is essential to a power that Congress has.

Answer: (D)

This question centers on Congress having powers beyond what’s written in the Constitution, via the Necessary and Proper Clause. McCulloch v. Maryland established that Congress can use reasonable, appropriate means to execute its enumerated powers, even if those means aren’t explicitly listed. The Bank of the United States is the classic example: creating a bank was an acceptable way to carry out powers like borrowing money, regulating currency, and collecting taxes. That decision also affirmed federal supremacy over state attempts to interfere with legitimate federal functions, such as taxing the bank.

So the best answer captures the idea that Congress may take actions that are necessary and proper to carry out its constitutional powers, i.e., it has implied powers. The other statements don’t reflect the case’s central holding: it isn’t about exclusive control of interstate commerce, about immunities from state lawsuits, or about a strict limit on enforcing federal regulations through state officials.