Jurisdiction Definition

1. The authority of a court to hear and decide a case. To make a legally valid decision in a case, a court must have both:

"subject matter jurisdiction," meaning the power to hear the type of case in question, and
"personal jurisdiction," meaning the power to make a decision affecting the parties involved in a case.

2. The power of a political body to make laws and govern.

3. The physical territory within, or within the control of, a political body.

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