Subject matter jurisdiction defines a court’s power to decide a lawsuit involving a particular subject matter, and to render an enforceable judgment. A court generally has jurisdiction when the particular claim raised in the case is within its constitutional jurisdiction—as provided by the state constitution or the U.S. Constitution—or because jurisdiction has been mandated by the state legislature or the United States Congress.

In Kansas, subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear and decide cases of a specific nature. The Kansas Constitution, along with state statutes, delineates the scope of subject matter jurisdiction for different courts within the state. For example, the Kansas District Courts are the state's trial courts of general jurisdiction and have the authority to hear a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, probate, and juvenile matters. On the other hand, certain courts, such as small claims courts, have limited jurisdiction and can only hear specific types of cases with claims below a certain monetary threshold. Additionally, federal laws and the U.S. Constitution may grant or limit jurisdiction for federal courts in Kansas, which handle cases involving federal law, disputes between states, or cases where there is diversity of citizenship among the parties. It is important for a case to be filed in a court with the proper subject matter jurisdiction to ensure that any judgment rendered is legally enforceable.