The Albany Bridge Case was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court in 1864. The case involved an appeal from the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which had ruled that Congress did not have authority to grant a charter to build a bridge over navigable waters without first obtaining permission from Maryland and Virginia. The Supreme Court reversed this ruling, finding that Congress had exclusive power under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution to regulate commerce between states and foreign nations. In its opinion, Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase wrote: "It is clear that if it be within congressional power thus to authorize bridges across navigable streams connecting two or more states...the act must stand." This decision established federal supremacy over state law when it comes to regulating interstate commerce and has been cited as precedent in numerous cases since then.

In the Albany Bridge Case, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of New York State's right to construct a bridge across the Hudson River. The dissenting opinion argued that Congress had exclusive authority over navigable waters and thus should have been consulted prior to construction. Furthermore, it was argued that since this bridge would interfere with navigation on the river, it could not be constructed without Congressional approval. The dissent also noted that if such bridges were allowed to be built without congressional oversight then states would have free reign to build whatever structures they wanted regardless of their impact on interstate commerce or navigation rights granted by Congress. Ultimately, while acknowledging New York’s right as a sovereign state to control its own internal affairs, it was concluded that when those actions impinged upon federal interests then Congressional approval must first be sought before any action is taken.