Jū'ris-die'tion, n.
n. [Lat. jurisdictio, from jus, juris, right, law, and dicare, to pronounce; O. Fr. jurisdiction, N. Fr. juridiction, Fr. jurisdiction, Sp. jurisdiccion, It. giurisdizione, giuridizione, giurisdizione, giurisdizione.]
Sense 1. The legal power or authority of hearing and determining causes; the power of executing the laws and distributing justice; the right by which judges exercise their power; judicial authority over a cause; as, certain suits or actions, or the cognizance of certain crimes, are within the jurisdiction of a court, that is, within the limits of its authority or commission.
Sense 2. Power of governing or legislating; the right of making or enforcing laws; the power or right of exercising authority; as, nations claim exclusive jurisdiction on the sea, to the extent of a marine league from the main land or shore.
Sense 3. The limit within which power may be exercised; extent of power or authority. “Within point-blank of our jurisdiction regal.” Shak.
☞ Jurisdiction, in its most general sense, is the power to make, declare, or apply the law. When confined to the judiciary department, it is what we denominate the judicial power, the right of administering justice through the laws, by the means which the laws have provided for that purpose. Jurisdiction is limited to place or territory, to persons, or to particular subjects. Duponceau.