Under what condition can federal laws preempt state laws?

Federal laws can preempt state laws primarily when there is a conflict between the two. This concept, known as "preemption," arises from the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law in situations where the two cannot coexist. If a state law contradicts a federal regulation or statute, the federal law will apply, rendering the conflicting state law inoperative.

This preemption can occur in various scenarios, such as when the federal government occupies a regulatory field entirely, or when compliance with both federal and state laws is impossible. Additionally, Congress may explicitly state its intent to preempt state law through legislation.

In contrast, factors such as the age of the state law, its enforcement status, or its popularity do not determine whether federal law will prevail. Preemption is based entirely on the legal conflict between the laws themselves, making the understanding of how federal and state laws interact crucial in business law contexts.