Final answer:
The McCulloch v. Maryland case dealt with federal versus state powers, specifically involving Congress's implied powers and the principle of national supremacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The constitutional questions in the McCulloch v. Maryland case concern both the powers of Congress and the relationship between federal and state governments. The conflict emerged when Maryland imposed a tax on the Baltimore branch of the Second Bank of the United States, challenging the federal government's authority to charter a national bank and whether a state could tax federal entities. Chief Justice John Marshall's opinion in the case reinforced the doctrine of implied powers and established the principle of national supremacy. He reasoned that the necessary and proper clause granted Congress the power to pass laws necessary for executing its enumerated functions, thus validating the creation of the national bank. Furthermore, by invoking the supremacy clause, the Court decided that the national government's laws take precedence over conflicting state laws, preventing Maryland from taxing the bank.