Question

At issue in ______ was how the commerce clause should be defined and whether the national government had exclusive power to regulate commerce in more than one state

Answer 1

The subject of Gibbons v. Ogden was the definition and reach of the commerce clause and the federal government's ability to regulate interstate commerce, a significant decision that reinforced federal power over state laws.

Step-by-step explanation:

At issue in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) was the definition and extent of the commerce clause outlined in Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution and whether the federal government had exclusive power over interstate commerce. The case involved conflicting steamboat licenses issued by New York State and the federal government. The Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Marshall, ruled that Congress had the authority to regulate interstate commerce, including navigation, because of the federal Licensing Act of 1793. This decision asserted the precedence of federal regulation over state laws in matters of interstate commerce. The commerce clause enables Congress to regulate many aspects of the economy across state lines, but its powers are not unlimited. Over time, the Supreme Court rulings have varied in their interpretation of the commerce clause, affecting the balance of power between state and federal governments.