Question

read the passage and answer the question that follows.
in 1819, the supreme court decided in the mcculloch v. maryland case that the constitution gave congress the authority to establish a national bank. in its 1824 decision in gibbons v. ogden, the supreme court ruled that congress had the power to regulate economic activity that crossed state lines.
which statement best explains the lasting impact of these turning points in united states history?
they made the legislative branch the most powerful branch of government.
they recognized a role for the federal government in the nations economy.
they established government planning as a feature of the socialist economy.
they delayed the growth of a national economy by limiting trade between states.

Explanation:

• Analyze Option 1: The cases deal with federal government's economic role, not making legislative branch most powerful (separation of powers means no branch is most powerful in that sense). Eliminate.
• Analyze Option 2: McCulloch v. Maryland allowed a national bank (federal economic action), Gibbons v. Ogden allowed federal regulation of interstate commerce. Both show federal government's role in the economy. This fits.
• Analyze Option 3: The US has a capitalist economy, not socialist, so government planning as a socialist feature is incorrect. Eliminate.
• Analyze Option 4: Gibbons v. Ogden facilitated interstate trade, not limited it. So this is wrong. Eliminate.

Answer:

B. They recognized a role for the federal government in the nation’s economy.