Qdot
The rule of law that if the federal government through congress has enacted legislation on a subject matter it shall be controlling over state laws and/or preclude the state from enacting laws on the same subject if congress has specifically stated it has “occupied the field.” if congress has not clearly claimed preemption, a federal or state court may decide the issue on the basis of history of the legislation (debate in congress) and practice. example: federal standards of meat or other products have preempted state laws. however, federal and state legislation on narcotics control may parallel each other.
