but when “in order to form a more perfect Union” it was deemed necessary to change this alliance into an effective government, possessing great and sovereign powers, and acting directly on the people, the necessity of referring it to the people, and of deriving its powers directly from them, was felt and acknowledged by all. The government of the Union is emphatically and truly a government of the people. In form and substance it emanates from them. Its powers are granted by them and are to be exercised directly on them, and for their benefit. This government is acknowledged by all to be one of enumerated powers. But the question respecting the extent of the powers actually granted is perpetually recurring, and will probably continue to arise as long as our system shall exist. The government of the Union, though limited in its powers, is supreme within its sphere of action.[9] This supremacy results from the nature of the government. It is the government of all; its powers are delegated by all; it represents all, and acts for all. Though any one State may be willing to control its operations, no State is willing to allow others to control them. The nation, on those subjects on which it can act, must necessarily bind its component parts. But this question is not left to mere reason; the people have in express terms decided it by saying, this Constitution and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made under its authority, shall be the supreme law of the land, and by requiring executive, legislative, judicial (and administrative) officers to take the oath of fidelity to it.[10] 7. The question of sovereignty arises here and, as commonly stated, of national sovereignty and of State sovereignty. The equal vote allowed each State by the Constitution,[11] “is at once a recognition of the portion of sovereignty remaining in the individual States, and an instrument for preserving that residuary sovereignty.”[12] Are there two sovereignties in America? The sovereignty of a State [declares Marshall], extends to everything which exists by its authority, or is introduced by its permission; but does not extend to these means which are employed by Congress to carry into execution powers conferred on that body by the people of the United States. These powers are not given by the people of a single State, but by the people of the United States to a government whose laws, made in pursuance of the Constitution, are declared to be supreme. Consequently, the people of a single State cannot confer a sovereignty which will extend over them.[13] 8. The exercise of the taxing power illustrates the principle here involved. The power of taxation residing in a State measures the extent of sovereignty which the people of a single State possess, and can confer on its government.