Under the Supremacy Clause, when there is a conflict between state and national law, which law prevails?

The Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, establishes the authority of national law over state laws in cases where there is a conflict between the two. This clause serves to ensure uniformity across the nation, meaning that when a state law contradicts a federal law, the federal law takes precedence. The intention behind this clause is to prevent states from enacting laws that undermine or contradict federal regulations or statutes, thereby providing a cohesive legal framework for the entire country.

This principle is crucial in maintaining the rule of law and ensuring that federal authorities can enforce laws consistently across all states. Therefore, when the national government legislates within its constitutional powers, states cannot offer conflicting legal standards; doing so would undermine the national legal framework and lead to confusion and inconsistency in the application of laws across different jurisdictions. Thus, in any scenario where there is a legal dispute between state and federal laws, national law prevails as dictated by the Supremacy Clause.