What are the two types of Federal Subject Matter Jurisdictions?

Federal subject matter jurisdiction refers to the authority of federal courts to hear specific cases. The two recognized types are federal question cases and diversity of citizenship cases.

Federal question cases arise when a case involves a question pertaining to federal law, the Constitution, or treaties made under its authority. This allows federal courts to interpret and apply federal law, ensuring a uniform understanding across the country.

Diversity of citizenship cases occur when the parties involved in the lawsuit are residents of different states, and the amount in controversy exceeds a specified threshold set by law. This provision aims to provide a neutral ground for litigants from different states, mitigating any potential bias that might arise in state courts.

While state question cases and diversity of citizenship cases mention different criteria for jurisdiction, only the first two explicitly represent the categories established by federal jurisdiction. Civil and criminal cases refer generally to the type of legal actions rather than the jurisdictional basis, and administrative and regulatory cases are specific to federal agency actions rather than the general jurisdictional classifications of federal courts.