Comparing Federal Power: McCulloch v. Maryland vs. United States v. Lopez

Throughout U.S. history, the Supreme Court has played a critical role in interpreting the Constitution and shaping governmental authority. Two landmark cases that illustrate differing interpretations of constitutional principles are McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) and United States v. Lopez (1995). In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Court addressed the scope of federal power and the principle of implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause, whereby the federal government was deemed to possess powers beyond those explicitly listed in the Constitution. Conversely, in United States v. Lopez, the Court examined the limits of federal authority under the Commerce Clause, ruling that the Gun-Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress's commerce power.

Compare and contrast these two Supreme Court cases in terms of their constitutional principles and their implications for federalism in the United States. In your response, be sure to include specific references to the cases, legal reasoning, and the impacts on the balance of power between federal and state governments.