Gibbons v. Ogden established which principle?

Gibbons v. Ogden established which principle?

• A. States regulate all interstate commerce
• B. Commerce between states is controlled by the federal government
• C. Federal supremacy over interstate commerce
• D. The right of individuals to patent inventions

Answer: (C)

Federal supremacy over interstate commerce is the central idea. Gibbons v. Ogden decided that Congress has the power to regulate trade between states under the Commerce Clause, and that federal authority overrides conflicting state laws—such as a state-granted monopoly on river navigation. The ruling also clarified that navigation is included in commerce, so activities across state lines fall under federal regulation. This establishes the federal government as the ultimate authority in interstate commerce. The other options miss the point: one describes state regulation of interstate commerce, which the decision rejects; another veers into unrelated patent rights; and the takeaway here is that federal law prevails when states and the federal government clash.

Federal supremacy over interstate commerce is the central idea. Gibbons v. Ogden decided that Congress has the power to regulate trade between states under the Commerce Clause, and that federal authority overrides conflicting state laws—such as a state-granted monopoly on river navigation. The ruling also clarified that navigation is included in commerce, so activities across state lines fall under federal regulation. This establishes the federal government as the ultimate authority in interstate commerce. The other options miss the point: one describes state regulation of interstate commerce, which the decision rejects; another veers into unrelated patent rights; and the takeaway here is that federal law prevails when states and the federal government clash.