Which statement best describes subject-matter jurisdiction?

• A. Authority to hear a type of case.
• B. Venue location for the trial.
• C. The power to review appellate decisions.
• D. Authority over the parties.

Answer: (A)

Subject-matter jurisdiction is the court’s power to hear and decide cases of a particular kind. It determines whether a court is authorized to adjudicate the claims that have been filed, based on the type of case or the legal questions involved. If a court lacks this authority, it cannot proceed no matter what the parties want or how the case is framed.

This is why the correct description fits best: it captures that the essential question is whether the court is empowered to hear the specific type of case. By contrast, venue is about where the case is heard, personal jurisdiction is about power over the parties, and appellate jurisdiction is about reviewing decisions on appeal. Each of those addresses a different aspect of a court’s authority, not the power to hear a particular kind of case in the first instance.