2006 Bar: Distinguish jurisdiction from venue. (2%)

Jurisdiction treats of the power of the Court to decide a case on the merits, while venue refers to the place where the suit may be filed. In criminal actions, however, venue is jurisdictional. Jurisdiction is matter of substantive law; venue, of procedural law. Jurisdiction may not be conferred by consent through waiver upon a court, but venue may be waived, except in criminal cases (Nocum vs. Tan; Santos III vs. Northwest Airlines).