Which term refers to the legal authority to hear and decide a case?

The term that refers to the legal authority to hear and decide a case is "jurisdiction." Jurisdiction establishes the power of a court to apply the law to a given case and to issue a binding decision. It is a fundamental principle in the legal system that determines which court has the authority to preside over a case based on various factors, such as the geographical location of the parties involved, the nature of the legal issues, and the specific statutes that govern the matter.

This concept is crucial because if a court lacks jurisdiction, any decision it makes can be deemed invalid. For instance, a federal court cannot decide a state law case unless there is a federal question involved or diversity jurisdiction applies. Jurisdiction can also be classified into various types, such as subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction, which further delineate a court's authority.

In contrast, venue refers to the proper or most convenient location for a trial, adjudication is the legal process through which a court resolves a dispute, and litigation describes the process of taking legal action. Each of these terms plays a role in the broader legal context but does not directly pertain to the authority itself to decide a case like jurisdiction does.