Final answer:
McCulloch v. Maryland established the principle of implied powers for the federal government. A social welfare program can be considered an implied power based on this precedent.
Step-by-step explanation:
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) was a landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of implied powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution. The case involved whether the federal government had the power to establish a national bank. Chief Justice John Marshall's ruling in the case confirmed that the federal government did indeed have the authority to establish the bank, based on the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution. This clause grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers.
Therefore, an action by the federal government that could be considered an implied power based on the precedent set by McCulloch v. Maryland would be the establishment of a social welfare program, such as Social Security or Medicare. These programs are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, but they are seen as necessary and proper for the federal government to carry out its responsibility to promote the general welfare of its citizens.
Learn more about Implied powers of the federal government