Final answer:
Original jurisdiction is the authority of a court to hear a case first, while appellate jurisdiction is the power to hear a case on appeal from a lower court.
Step-by-step explanation:
Original jurisdiction is the authority vested in a particular court to hear a case first. This means that the court is the first to hear and make a decision for the case. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases involving disputes between states, or between the United States and foreign ambassadors or ministers. This type of jurisdiction is limited and only applies to specific cases.
On the other hand, appellate jurisdiction is the power to hear a case after a lower court has already decided the case. In appellate cases, the Supreme Court reviews the decision made by the lower court and may change it. The majority of the cases heard by the Supreme Court are appellate cases.
In summary, the authority vested in a particular court to hear a case first is called original jurisdiction, while the power to hear a case on appeal from a lower court is known as appellate jurisdiction.