The 11th Amendment primarily limits which court from hearing certain claims against states?

The 11th Amendment primarily limits which court from hearing certain claims against states?

• A. State courts
• B. Federal courts
• C. Supreme Court
• D. Municipal courts

Answer: (B)

State sovereign immunity is the key idea. The 11th Amendment bars federal courts from hearing certain suits against a state—specifically, suits brought by citizens of another state or by foreign citizens—unless the state consents or Congress validly abrogates. So the limitation falls on federal courts. State courts aren’t barred in the same way, and local/municipal courts aren’t the focus of this immunity. The upshot is that federal courts are the ones restricted by the 11th Amendment in these scenarios.

State sovereign immunity is the key idea. The 11th Amendment bars federal courts from hearing certain suits against a state—specifically, suits brought by citizens of another state or by foreign citizens—unless the state consents or Congress validly abrogates. So the limitation falls on federal courts. State courts aren’t barred in the same way, and local/municipal courts aren’t the focus of this immunity. The upshot is that federal courts are the ones restricted by the 11th Amendment in these scenarios.