Question

In the U.S., jurisdiction is:

I. Defined by the U.S. Constitution
II. Defined by various statutes
III. Both I and II.

Answer 1

Jurisdiction in the U.S. is established by both the U.S. Constitution and various statutes. It defines the authority of federal and state courts to hear cases. While the Constitution describes the fundamental scope of federal jurisdiction, statutes provide additional details.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the U.S., jurisdiction is defined by both the U.S. Constitution and by various statutes. The Constitution's Article III, particularly Section 2, indicates the power of the federal courts to hear cases, specifying that the Supreme Court and other federal courts will hear cases involving federal law, disputes between states, and disputes involving residents of different states. Additionally, the Federal Judiciary Act of 1789 and subsequent laws provide further detail on how cases are assigned to these courts. The hierarchy of laws starts with the U.S. Constitution, followed by Acts of Congress and Treaties, state constitutions, state laws/statutes, and then city and county ordinances.

Moreover, the dual court system in the United States allows for some cases to be tried in both state and federal courts if they involve the U.S. Constitution or federal law. State law governs the authority of state courts, and variation among states may lead to different interpretations of legal issues.