McCulloch v. Maryland resulted in one of the most important decisions in the history of the Supreme Court of the United States. The court ruled in 1819 that Congress has implied powers in addition to those specified in the Constitution. The decision was based on a section of the Constitution called the "necessary and proper" clause. This clause gives Congress power "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper" to carry out its other powers. The court also ruled that when federal and state powers conflict, federal powers prevail.