Which type of cases do federal courts hear?

• A. Cases involving state laws or matters under state jurisdiction.
• B. Cases involving international law only.
• C. Cases involving federal law or constitutional issues.
• D. Cases that only involve local ordinances.

Answer: (C)

Federal courts handle disputes that involve federal law or the U.S. Constitution. This means cases about interpreting federal statutes, federal regulations, or constitutional rights like freedom of speech or due process. The Constitution gives Congress the power to establish the federal judiciary and to define what kinds of cases it can hear, so these courts are the place to resolve issues that come from federal law. In contrast, most cases dealing with state laws or local ordinances stay in state or local courts. An example would be a challenge to a federal civil rights statute or a case about the First Amendment, which would go to federal court.