Which Supreme Court decision significantly expanded the regulatory power of the federal government?

The choice of Wickard v. Filburn reflects a pivotal moment in U.S. legal history where the Supreme Court significantly broadened the scope of congressional regulatory power under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. In this 1942 case, the Court ruled that individual farmers' wheat production, even if grown for personal use and not sold, could be regulated by the federal government because it had a cumulative effect on the national market.

This decision marked a departure from earlier interpretations that limited federal authority, underscoring how activities that might seem local or personal could still affect interstate commerce. By establishing a broader interpretation of what constitutes interstate commerce, Wickard v. Filburn facilitated increased federal oversight and regulatory authority over various aspects of economic activity, thus reshaping the landscape of federalism in the United States.

In contrast, Marbury v. Madison is known for establishing the principle of judicial review, while Brown v. Board of Education dealt primarily with desegregation and the civil rights movement. Roe v. Wade focused on women's reproductive rights and privacy issues, which, while significant in their respective realms, do not pertain to the expansion of federal regulatory power in the same way that Wickard v. Filburn does.