Subject matter jurisdiction
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Subject matter jurisdiction is a necessary prerequisite for a federal court to decide a case or controversy. Subject matter jurisdiction consists of authority over the type of dispute, or the "subject matter" of the dispute, not the specific individuals or parties.
Sometimes subject matter jurisdiction can depend on where parties reside (in diversity cases) or where the property is located.
Federal court
In federal court, subject matter jurisdiction requires proof by the plaintiff of both constitutional and statutory authorization for his claims to be heard. Both elements -- constitutional and statutory -- are necessary to establish the authority of a federal court to hear a case.