General (not jurisdiction-specific)

A required good-faith attempt by the parties to resolve a dispute before asking the court to decide it.

A court’s power to hear a particular type of case. Federal courts can hear only the kinds of cases the Constitution and Congress allow.

A formal change or addition to a legal document. A constitutional amendment changes a constitution; under Article V, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution must be proposed by Congress or a convention and ratified by three-fourths of the states. A statute can also be amended by later legislation. In a lawsuit, an amendment is a change to a pleading after it has been filed (Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15).

Penalties a court may impose for violating rules or orders.

A court’s authority over a particular defendant.

The court’s permission to take a step that the rules do not allow as of right.

Judgment without a trial because there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

The particular court location — district or division — where a case is heard.

The pretrial process in which parties obtain information and evidence from each other and from nonparties.

Moving a case from state court to federal court under the federal removal statutes.