jurisdiction

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Law The right and power to interpret and apply the law: courts having jurisdiction in this district.
2. n. Authority or control: islands under U.S. jurisdiction; a bureau with jurisdiction over Native American affairs.
3. n. The extent of authority or control: a family matter beyond the school's jurisdiction.
4. n. The territorial range of authority or control.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Judicial authority; the legal power of hearing and determining controversies or accusations; the right of exercising the functions of a judge or of a legal tribunal. It includes the power to compel a person to appear and answer a complaint, or to punish him for not doing so; the power to take property in dispute into the custody of the law; the power to compel production of evidence, and hear the contention of the parties; the power to determine questions of right between the parties, and to enforce the determination. Jurisdiction of the person depends usually on the giving of due notice to the person, or a voluntary appearance by him. Jurisdiction of the subject-matter usually depends on the statutory or common-law powers conferred on the court with reference to the nature of the controversy or property affected, and sometimes upon the seizure of the property into the custody of the law.
2. n. Controlling authority; the right of making and enforcing laws or regulations; the capacity of determining rules of action or use, and exacting penalties: as, the jurisdiction of a state over its subjects.
3. n. The domain within which power is exercised; specifically, the territory over which the authority of a state, court, or judge extends.
4. n. The function or capacity of judging or governing in general; the natural right to judge; inherent power of decision or control.

Wiktionary

1. n. the power, right, or authority to interpret and apply the law
2. n. the power or right to exercise authority
3. n. the authority of a sovereign power to govern or legislate
4. n. the limits or territory within which authority may be exercised

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Law) The legal power, right, or authority of a particular court to hear and determine causes, to try criminals, or to execute justice; judicial authority over a cause or class of causes.
2. n. The authority of a sovereign power to govern or legislate; the right of making or enforcing laws; the power or right of exercising authority.
3. n. Sphere of authority; the limits within which any particular power may be exercised, or within which a government or a court has authority.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. (law) the right and power to interpret and apply the law
2. n. in law; the territory within which power can be exercised