The federal courts of the United States are divided into two categories along jurisdictional lines – state and federal. Federal question jurisdiction means that cases may be heard in a federal court if the dispute arises from a federal law or other things that fall within the jurisdiction of the federal court system.
In general, this means that questions related to laws created or amended at the federal level, such as the U.S. Constitution, fall within the jurisdiction of the federal court system. Some examples include cases dealing with diversity of citizenship, civil rights, bankruptcy, uniform laws across state lines, and patent proceedings.
In addition, the “arising under” test is often used by the courts to determine a case’s federal question jurisdiction. This test essentially states that if a federal law creates the cause of action, then the case arises within the jurisdiction of the federal court system.
For example, if a case alleges a violation of federal securities law, it will almost certainly arise within the federal court system because the claim relies on a specific federal law. Similarly, any disputes alleging a contractual breach of the federal “Lanham Act,” which concerns trademark and unfair competition in commercial settings, will fall within the federal court system as a matter of federal question jurisdiction.
Overall, federal question jurisdiction is an important concept to understand when considering what court a case should be litigated in. Generally, cases bringing into question a federal law or set of regulations will arise within the jurisdiction of the federal court system. If such a case arises, it is important to understand what court the case should take place in.