Subject matter jurisdiction defines a court’s power to decide a lawsuit involving a particular subject matter, and to render an enforceable judgment. A court generally has jurisdiction when the particular claim raised in the case is within its constitutional jurisdiction—as provided by the state constitution or the U.S. Constitution—or because jurisdiction has been mandated by the state legislature or the United States Congress.
In Texas, subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear a case based on the type of case it is. The Texas Constitution and various statutes establish the jurisdiction of different courts. For example, district courts in Texas have general jurisdiction and can hear a wide range of cases, including civil actions, criminal cases, and family law matters. County courts have jurisdiction over certain types of cases as specified by law, such as misdemeanors with higher penalties and civil cases within a certain monetary range. Justice of the Peace courts handle smaller civil disputes and minor criminal offenses. Federal courts, on the other hand, have jurisdiction over cases involving federal law, disputes between states, and cases where the amount in controversy exceeds a certain threshold and the parties are from different states (diversity jurisdiction). Each court must have both subject matter jurisdiction over the case type and personal jurisdiction over the parties involved to render an enforceable judgment.
