Question

In the United States, when two individuals or companies have a civil dispute, they may bring that dispute before a court of law. Due to the history of the United States, federal courts are not necessarily above state courts when it comes to hearing lawsuits, as their names would imply. Instead, federal courts are used to hearing lawsuits which involve citizens from two different states, or when the matter being heard involves federal law. As such, federal courts are very limited in what cases they can actually hear; the states reserve the right to hear any case which happens in their territories or which involves their citizens, and only through select exceptions may citizens request that their case be heard at a federal court. Cases that do not fall under those exceptions μst either be dismissed or remanded (read: sent back to the state court where they were originally filed).

When does a federal court have jurisdiction over a case in the United States?

a)When the matter involves citizens from the same state.
b)When the matter involves federal law.
c)When both parties are from different states.
d)When the state court refuses to hear the case.

Answer 1

A federal court in the U.S. has jurisdiction over a case when it involves federal law, diversity of citizenship with an amount over $75,000, or certain specialized areas like cases involving foreign governments or states. The correct option is b)When the matter involves federal law.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the United States, a federal court has jurisdiction over a case when the matter involves the application or interpretation of federal law, which includes cases where there is a 'federal question' involving the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, or treaties.

Additionally, federal courts have jurisdiction in cases where both parties are from different states, known as diversity of citizenship, and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. Cases involving foreign governments, patent infringement, Native American rights, maritime law, bankruptcy, or controversies between two or more states are also within the federal court's jurisdiction.

However, when a case involves citizens from the same state, the federal court typically does not have jurisdiction, unless there is a federal question. If a state court refuses to hear a case, it does not automatically confer jurisdiction to the federal courts. The correct option is b)When the matter involves federal law.