This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more

Got it!

federal question

A genuine issue of law or controversy that can be originally adjudicated within a United States federal court because it concerns U.S Constitutional law, federal statutory law, a treaty, or international law.

According to the U.S Constitution , the presence of a federal question is one of several bases under which federal district courts may exercise their original jurisdiction to try a lawsuit .

If a suit brought in state court is found to include a federal question, it may be removed to federal court by any defendant.

Related terms:

• CIVICS

• Diversity jurisdiction

• Federal court

• Federal jurisdiction

• Federal preemption of state law

• Jurisdiction

• Subject matter jurisdiction

• 28 U.S.C § 1331

• 28 U.S.C § 1441

[Last reviewed in July of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team
]

Wex

• CIVICS

• the Constitution

• THE LEGAL PROCESS

• courts

• criminal law

• criminal procedure

• judicial administration

• wex definitions

• civil procedure

• government