The Supreme Court of the United States has both original and appellate jurisdiction, as defined by Article III of the U.S. Constitution.
Original jurisdiction refers to cases that can be heard directly by the Supreme Court without going through lower courts first. This typically includes cases involving ambassadors, public ministers, and those in which a state is a party.
Appellate jurisdiction, on the other hand, pertains to cases that come to the Supreme Court on appeal from lower courts. Most of the Court's work falls under this category, as it reviews decisions made by federal and state courts to ensure they comply with the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties.
In summary, the power of the Supreme Court includes the authority to hear cases that originate in its own right (original jurisdiction) and to review and potentially overturn decisions made by lower courts (appellate jurisdiction).