Subject-matter jurisdiction

[5][6] To decide a case, a court must have a combination of subject (subjectam) and either personal (personam) or territorial (locum) jurisdiction.

Subject-matter jurisdiction is significantly more limited in United States federal courts.

Federal courts' actual subject-matter jurisdiction derives from Congressional enabling statutes, such as 28 U.S.C.

The United States Congress has not extended federal courts' subject-matter jurisdiction to its constitutional limits.

§ 1331, provides that the district courts have original jurisdiction in all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.

As mentioned before, this jurisdiction by default is not exclusive; states can also hear claims based on federal law.

According to Rule 12(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a federal court has the authority to dismiss a case for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction upon motion of a party or sua sponte, upon its own initiative.