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 Rhode Island, subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear and decide cases of a specific nature. The Rhode Island Constitution, along with state statutes, delineates the scope of jurisdiction for different courts within the state. For example, the Rhode Island Superior Court has general jurisdiction and can hear a wide range of cases, including civil matters, criminal cases, and family law. Conversely, other courts, such as the Rhode Island Family Court or District Court, have limited jurisdiction and are designated to handle only certain types of cases, such as family matters or small claims, respectively. Federal courts, on the other hand, have jurisdiction as defined by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws, typically involving federal questions, diversity of citizenship, or other matters specified by Congress. A court must have both subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction over the parties to render an enforceable judgment. If a court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the case must be dismissed or transferred to a court that has the proper authority to hear it.