FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE JURISDICTION

The Constitution of the United States divides legislative jurisdiction between the States and the federal government in a manner that is intended to create two entirely separate "orbits."

As stipulated in the Constitution of the United States and numerous decisions of the Court, Congress has been delegated only very limited jurisdiction in "domestic" legislation:

     Exclusive legislative authority, (e.g. powers of "general government,") as regards specific subject matter enumerated in the Constitution of the United States - applying to all individuals and enterprises, and specifically excluding the State from competing jurisdiction; ("in res".)

     Exclusive legislative jurisdiction, (e.g. internal "police power,") over actions of individuals and enterprises ocurring within the borders of specifically defined federal properties - as well as over rights or claims against property located within the borders of specifically defined federal properties; ("in rem.")

(In this section, only the second type of jurisdiction will be discussed.)