What is the term for the power of the federal courts to hear matters arising under federal law?

What is the term for the power of the federal courts to hear matters arising under federal law?

• A. Diversity jurisdiction
• B. Concurrent jurisdiction
• C. Removal
• D. Federal question jurisdiction

Answer: (D)

The concept tested is federal question jurisdiction—the authority of federal courts to hear cases arising under federal law. This means the case can be brought in federal court when the plaintiff’s claim rests on a federal statute, constitutional issue, or treaty, and the federal issue is part of the plaintiff’s claim on the face of the complaint (not merely a defense). Diversity jurisdiction, by contrast, depends on the parties’ citizenship and a monetary threshold, not on whether federal law is involved. Removal is a procedural step that lets a defendant move a case from state court to federal court when federal jurisdiction could apply. Concurrent jurisdiction describes situations where both state and federal courts can hear a case, which is not the same as the federal court’s power to hear federal-law claims. Thus, the term that matches “the power of the federal courts to hear matters arising under federal law” is federal question jurisdiction.

The concept tested is federal question jurisdiction—the authority of federal courts to hear cases arising under federal law. This means the case can be brought in federal court when the plaintiff’s claim rests on a federal statute, constitutional issue, or treaty, and the federal issue is part of the plaintiff’s claim on the face of the complaint (not merely a defense).

Diversity jurisdiction, by contrast, depends on the parties’ citizenship and a monetary threshold, not on whether federal law is involved. Removal is a procedural step that lets a defendant move a case from state court to federal court when federal jurisdiction could apply. Concurrent jurisdiction describes situations where both state and federal courts can hear a case, which is not the same as the federal court’s power to hear federal-law claims. Thus, the term that matches “the power of the federal courts to hear matters arising under federal law” is federal question jurisdiction.