jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the official power or right to make legal decisions and judgments. It also refers to the specific area or territory where a particular system of laws or authority is used.
Examples
3 of 5The local police said the car accident was outside their jurisdiction.
The local police said the car accident was not in the area where they have power.
The court lacks the jurisdiction to hear this specific legal case.
The court does not have the legal right to listen to this case.
You have no jurisdiction over what I eat for dinner!
You do not have the power to tell me what I should eat for dinner.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'Juris' (Law) and 'Dict' (to Speak). Jurisdiction is the right to 'speak the law' in a certain area.
Quick Quiz
The case was dismissed because the judge had no ______ over the crime.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Examples
The local police said the car accident was outside their jurisdiction.
everydayThe local police said the car accident was not in the area where they have power.
The court lacks the jurisdiction to hear this specific legal case.
formalThe court does not have the legal right to listen to this case.
You have no jurisdiction over what I eat for dinner!
informalYou do not have the power to tell me what I should eat for dinner.
The professor examined the overlapping jurisdiction of federal and state authorities.
academicThe teacher looked at how both national and local governments share power.
Our company must follow the jurisdiction of the country where we sell our products.
businessOur business must follow the laws of the country where we sell things.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
original jurisdiction
the right of a court to be the first to hear a case
under the jurisdiction of
controlled by a specific legal authority
appellate jurisdiction
the power of a court to review decisions made by lower courts
Often Confused With
Jurisdiction is the legal power to make a decision, while judgement is the actual decision that is made.
Usage Notes
This word is most often used in law or government to describe who is 'in charge' of a case or a place.
Common Mistakes
Do not use 'jurisdiction' simply to mean a 'place'; it must refer to the legal power over that place.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Juris' (Law) and 'Dict' (to Speak). Jurisdiction is the right to 'speak the law' in a certain area.
Word Origin
From the Latin 'juris' meaning 'of law' and 'dictio' meaning 'a saying' or 'proclaiming'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the United States, jurisdiction is a major topic because state laws and federal laws often overlap.
Quick Quiz
The case was dismissed because the judge had no ______ over the crime.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Related Vocabulary
More law words
prosecutor
A1A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government. Their job is to show a court that someone has committed a crime.
defendant
A1A defendant is a person or organization that is being accused of a crime or is being sued in a court of law. This person is required to answer the legal charges brought against them by another party.
plaintiff
A1A person or group who brings a legal case against another in a court of law. They are the ones starting the lawsuit because they believe they have been wronged.
jury
A1A group of ordinary people chosen to listen to the facts of a trial in a court of law. They listen to the evidence and decide if a person is guilty or not guilty.
lawsuit
A1A lawsuit is a legal case where one person or group brings a disagreement to a court of law for a judge to decide. It usually happens when someone wants money or a specific action from another person because of a problem or injury.
proof
A1Proof is a fact or a piece of information that shows something is true. In a legal context, it is what a person uses to convince a judge or jury that a crime happened.
misdemeanor
A1A misdemeanor is a minor crime that is less serious than a felony. It is usually punished by a fine or a short period of time in a local jail rather than a state prison.
sentence
A1A sentence is a punishment given by a judge to someone who has been found guilty of a crime. It explains how much time a person must spend in prison or how much money they must pay as a fine.
bail
A1Bail is a sum of money paid to a court so that a person who has been accused of a crime can stay out of jail until their trial starts. If the person shows up for their court date, the money is usually returned.
fraud
A1Fraud is the illegal act of tricking someone to get their money or property. It is a crime where a person lies or hides the truth to gain an unfair advantage.
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