Patriotdiscussions wrote:just trying to figure out territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
We already know they have no personal jurisdiction over state citizens, and limited subject matter jurisdiction.
May I be the first to say: Wrong.
Personal jurisdiction and subject matter jurisdiction are two entirely different concepts, but a court has to have both. Having subject matter jurisdiction without personal jurisdiction (when personal jurisdiction is needed) is useless.
But "jurisdiction" is a judicial concept, not a legislative concept. The section of the Constitution authorizing the District of Columbia says that Congress shall have the power "To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever" and says nothing about "jurisdiction."
And, according to Article VI of the Constitution, the laws enacted by Congress are the "supreme Law of the Land," and that phrase would be meaningless if the laws of the United States enacted within the powers granted to Congress by the Constitution could not be enforced against those who lived within the lands of the United States.
But the actual words of the Constitution are irrelevant, because controlling legal authority is found in the scratchings of 18th century stonemasons.</sarcasm>