What is the term used to describe the authority to hear a case in federal courts?

The authority to hear a case in federal courts is referred to as jurisdiction. Jurisdiction defines the scope within which a court can operate and make legal decisions. Federal courts have specific jurisdictional parameters outlined in both the Constitution and federal statutes, which determine the types of cases they can hear. For instance, federal courts can generally hear cases involving issues of federal law, disputes between states, or cases involving diversity jurisdiction where the parties are from different states and the amount in controversy exceeds a specified threshold.

The other terms listed do not pertain specifically to a court's authority to hear a case. Precedent refers to previous judicial decisions that inform future cases and is more about the application of law than authority. Supremacy pertains to the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, which states that federal law takes precedence over state law, but it does not define authority to hear cases. Litigation is a broader term that encompasses the process of taking legal action, but again, does not specifically refer to the authority to hear cases.