What jurisdiction does the US Supreme Court and federal court system have

Answers:
The Supreme Court and the federal courts have jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases involving:
  1. cases arising under the constitution

  2. cases arising under laws and treaties made by the United States


According to Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has original (but not necessarily exclusive) jurisdiction over the following types of cases:
  1. cases affecting ambassadors, public ministers and consuls (US District Court)

  2. cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction (US District Court)

  3. cases where the United States is a party (US District Court)

  4. disputes between two or more states (Supreme Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction)

  5. cases between a state and citizens of another state** (US District Court, may name officeholder as defendant/respondent)

  6. cases between citizens of different states* (US District Court, amounts in excess of $75,000 only; otherwise state court of the person filing the case)

  7. cases between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants made by different states and between a state, or citizens thereof and foreign states citizens and subjects (US District Court)


The Eleventh Amendment revoked the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction over disputes "between a state and citizens of another state," due to the Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia, (1793), in which the Jay Court decided the states lacked sovereign immunity from being sued for debt acquired during the Revolutionary War. Congress and the states rightfully feared this could bankrupt the states, and quickly passed the Eleventh Amendment.

The Supreme Court later decided the Eleventh Amendment should be extended to include disputes between a state and its own citizens.

Amendment XI

"The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state."


Article I Courts and Tribunals (US Special Courts)

The Federal court system also has a number of specialty courts that exclusively hear a limited class of cases. Examples are:
  • US Bankruptcy Court
  • US Court of Federal Claims
  • US Tax Court

Article I courts and tribunals are those the created under Congress' authority in Article I of the Constitution and are part of the Legislative Branch, not part of the Judicial Branch.

Simplified Version
  1. The Constitution
  2. Federal Laws
  3. Treaties
  4. Laws Governing ships
  5. Ambassadors or public ministers
  6. U.S. government itself
  7. Two or more state governments
  8. Citizens of different states (diversity jurisdiction only for amounts over $75,000)
  9. A state or its citizen versus a foreign country or foreign citizen
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