As chief justice, John Marshall most influenced constitutional law by which principle?

As chief justice, John Marshall most influenced constitutional law by which principle?

• A. placing clear limits on the legal privileges of business corporations.
• B. adopting an expansive interpretation of individual rights.
• C. emphasizing the supremacy of national laws over state legislation.
• D. basing decisions on a strict construction of the Constitution.

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is how Marshall helped establish the authority of the national government over the states. He did this by arguing that federal law takes precedence whenever the Constitution gives the federal government power to act, a principle grounded in the Supremacy Clause. Decisions like McCulloch v. Maryland reinforced that Congress has powers beyond those explicitly listed if implied by the Constitution, and that states cannot interfere with legitimate federal functions. Gibbons v. Ogden further showed that federal authority governs interstate commerce. Together, these ruling threads modernized federalism by making national laws the supreme law of the land, which is why this option is the best fit. Marshall’s influence wasn’t about curbing corporate privileges or expanding individual rights as the central aim, and his approach was not strictly about tight constitutional construction; it favored a broader reading that empowered the national government.

The main idea being tested is how Marshall helped establish the authority of the national government over the states. He did this by arguing that federal law takes precedence whenever the Constitution gives the federal government power to act, a principle grounded in the Supremacy Clause. Decisions like McCulloch v. Maryland reinforced that Congress has powers beyond those explicitly listed if implied by the Constitution, and that states cannot interfere with legitimate federal functions. Gibbons v. Ogden further showed that federal authority governs interstate commerce. Together, these ruling threads modernized federalism by making national laws the supreme law of the land, which is why this option is the best fit. Marshall’s influence wasn’t about curbing corporate privileges or expanding individual rights as the central aim, and his approach was not strictly about tight constitutional construction; it favored a broader reading that empowered the national government.