Trials

Question 1

Coyle vs Smith

Answer 1

Established the principle that all states are admitted to the union on equal footing. Congress may not enforce conditions that what undermine the equality of the state. The Supreme Court upheld the right of Oklahoma to change its capital city contrary to requirement in the Congressional enabling act that preceded statehood

Question 2

Graves vs New York ex rel. O’Keefe

Answer 2

Held that a state may tax the income of a federal employee and that such a tax does not impose an unconstitutional burden on the national government.

Question 3

Massachusetts vs Mellon

Answer 3

Massachusetts attacked Maternity Act, which provided federal grants to promote state infant and maternity care programs, charging that the law and it’s grants induced states to yield sovereign rights reserved and that the burden of taxation fell equally on its citizens. Held that the offer of grants did not force the states to do anything or to yield any rights except if they voluntarily chose to participate in the program. Found no burden other than that of taxation, which fell not on the states, but on their inhabitants, who, as citizens of the United States, are properly subject to federal taxes. Most important, the court held that a state could not institute judicial proceedings to protect its citizens from operation of otherwise valid federal laws.

Question 4

McCulluch vs Maryland

Answer 4

Upheld the power of the national government to establish a bank and denied the state of Maryland the power to tax a branch of the bank. Maryland could not tax a legitimate instrumentality of the national government because this would be an invasion of national supremacy. Established implied powers, Necessary and proper clause of Constitution, and national supremacy, Denies to the states any right to interfere in the constitutional operations of the national government.

Question 5

US vs Lopez

Answer 5

Struck down a federal law that made it a crime to Carry a gun within 1000 feet of the school. Exceeding congressional authority under the commerce clause. Court declared that the law had nothing to do with commerce and intruded on the police power of states. Held that the Federal commerce power extends only to regulation of an activity that “substantially affects” and not merely affects commerce