(1) Over conflicts of jurisdiction between federal authorities on the one part and cantonal authorities on the other part.
(2) Disputes between the Cantons involving questions of public law.
(3) Complaints concerning violations of the constitutional rights of citizens, and complaints of private citizens on account of the violation of concordats or treaties. Conflicts of administration are reserved and are to be settled in a manner prescribed by federal legislation. In all the forementioned cases the Federal Tribunal shall apply the laws passed by the Federal Assembly, and those resolutions which have a general import. It shall in like manner conform to all treaties which have been ratified by the Federal Assembly.
(h) Besides the cases mentioned, the Confederation may by law place other matters within the jurisdiction of the Federal Tribunal; in particular, it may give to that court powers for securing uniformity in the application of all federal laws passed in accordance with provisions of the constitution.
In 1874, within one month after the new constitution came into force, the Federal Assembly passed a very elaborate law relating to the Federal Tribunal. The jurisdiction of the court was extended to:
1. Cases of expropriation for the construction of railways and other works of public utility.
2. Questions between the Confederation and railway companies, and the winding up of the latter.
3. Cases which by the constitution or the legislation of a Canton are intrusted to its competency, when such cantonal provisions have been approved by the Federal Assembly.
As a Court of Appeals under the same federal law it sits:
4. In cases where federal laws have to be applied by Cantonal Tribunals, and the amount of the matter in dispute is 3000 francs at least, or cannot be estimated; where either party appeals from the judgment of the highest Cantonal Court (by agreement the parties can make the appeal directly from the lower Cantonal Court, without going to the Cantonal Court of Appeal). It also decides in cases of extradition, when the demand is made under an existing treaty, in so far as the application of the treaty is questioned; it settles boundary questions between two Cantons, and questions of competence between the authorities of different Cantons. In questions of jurisdiction between the Federal Court and cantonal authority, or as to whether it should be settled by a court of arbitration, the Tribunal itself decides as to its own competence. In cases where questions between Cantons or between a Canton and the Confederation come before the court, they come on reference from the Federal Council. If the Council decides negatively as to whether a matter ought to come before the court, the Assembly has the final determination on the point.