The U.S. Courts hear cases over which they have jurisdiction granted by the U.S. Constitution or Congress. Learn more about the cases heard in federal courts in this section.
The federal courts have jurisdiction over
- Cases that raise a "federal question" involving the United States Government , the U.S. Constitution, or other federal laws; and
- Cases involving “diversity of citizenship," which are disputes between two parties not from the same state or country, and where the claim meets a set dollar threshold for damages.
More specifically, federal courts hear criminal, civil, and bankruptcy cases. And once a case is decided, it can often be appealed.
Understanding the Federal Courts
Want to further develop your knowledge of the federal courts? Read Understanding the Federal Courts.
Separation of Powers
Federal judges offer insights into their thinking about the separation of powers and describe how healthy tensions among the branches have a stabilizing effect on democracy in this five-minute video.