Which part of the Constitution details the types of cases to be heard by the US Supreme Court?

Answer 1

Article III, Section 2 of the US Constitution lists the class of cases the Supreme Court (and lower federal courts) hear under original jurisdiction, and generally describes the broader category of cases the Court may hear under appellate jurisdiction.

In most instances, US District Courts first hear Article III cases of original jurisdiction; however the US Supreme Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction over disputes between the states.

The Eleventh Amendment revoked the right of the federal courts to hear disputes between a state and citizens of another state, giving the states sovereign immunity from being sued.


Article III, Section 2

The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority;--to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls;--to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction;--to controversies to which the United States shall be a party;--to controversies between two or more states;--between a state and citizens of another state;--between citizens of different states;--between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.
The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.


For more information on this topic, see Related Questions, below.

Answer 2

Article III of the US Constitution lists the types of cases the federal courts can hear, as well as which cases the Supreme Court tries under its original (trial) jurisdiction, and which it hears under its appellate jurisdiction. Congress has the ability to alter the Supreme Court's jurisdiction, except where the Constitution provides the Court has exclusive original jurisdiction (disputes between the states).