Editing Jurisdiction (section)

=== Original and appellate jurisdiction ===
It is also necessary to distinguish between [[original jurisdiction]] and [[appellate jurisdiction]]. A court of original jurisdiction has the power to hear cases as they are first initiated by a [[plaintiff]], while a court of appellate jurisdiction may only hear an action after the court of original jurisdiction (or a lower appellate court) has heard the matter. For example, in [[United States federal courts]], the United States district courts have original jurisdiction over a number of different matters (as mentioned above), and the [[United States court of appeals]] have appellate jurisdiction over matters appealed from the district courts. The U.S. Supreme Court, in turn, has appellate jurisdiction (of a discretionary nature) over the Courts of Appeals, as well as the state supreme courts, by means of [[writ of certiorari]].

However, in a special class of cases, the U.S. Supreme Court has the power to exercise original jurisdiction. Under {{UnitedStatesCode|28|1251}}, the Supreme court has original and exclusive jurisdiction over controversies between two or more states, and original (but non-exclusive) jurisdiction over cases involving officials of foreign states, controversies between the [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]] and a state, actions by a state against the citizens of another state or foreign country.