Legal Definitions - Article III

Article III is a part of the Constitution that allows for the creation of a federal court system. This means that federal courts have the power to hear cases that involve:

• Disputes over the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States
• Admiralty and maritime jurisdiction
• Cases where the United States is a party
• Disputes between two or more states
• Disputes between a state and citizens of another state
• Disputes between citizens of different states
• Disputes between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states
• Disputes between a state or citizens thereof and foreign states, citizens, or subjects

An Article III judge is a judge who is authorized under Article III of the Constitution. An Article III court is a court that Congress establishes pursuant to Article III of the Constitution.

For example, if a person from California sues a person from New York over a contract dispute, the case could be heard in an Article III court because it involves citizens of different states. Similarly, if the federal government sues a company for violating a federal law, the case could be heard in an Article III court because the United States is a party to the case.