What is the legal term for a court's power to hear a case?

The legal term for a court’s power to hear a case is jurisdiction. A court must have jurisdiction before it can properly decide the dispute or issue a binding order.

Jurisdiction has several dimensions. Subject-matter jurisdiction concerns the type of dispute a court may decide, such as federal questions, bankruptcy matters, or state-law claims. Personal jurisdiction concerns the court’s authority over the parties, especially the defendant. Territorial jurisdiction concerns the geographic area in which the court may exercise its power.

Jurisdiction is different from venue. Venue identifies the appropriate geographic location for a case within the court system, while jurisdiction asks whether the court has legal authority at all. Standing is a party’s legally sufficient connection to bring a claim, and precedent is an earlier judicial decision that may guide later cases. Courts can also have original jurisdiction to hear a case first, appellate jurisdiction to review a lower court, or concurrent jurisdiction shared with another court.