hagans lavine argued december decided march petitioners recipients public assistance aid families dependent children afdc program brought action challenging new york regulation permitting state recoup prior unscheduled payments rent subsequent grants afdc program ground regulation violated equal protection clause fourteenth amendment conflicted social security act implementing regulations department health education welfare hew injunctive declaratory relief sought jurisdiction invoked district declared recoupment regulation contrary social security act hew regulations enjoined implementation enforcement appeals reversed holding petitioners failed present substantial constitutional claim district lacked jurisdiction entertain either equal protection statutory claim held district jurisdiction pp section conferred jurisdiction entertain constitutional claim sufficient substance support federal jurisdiction case district hear matter pendent jurisdiction claim conflict federal state law without determining latter claim right encompassed within accepted substantiality doctrine petitioners complaint alleged constitutional claim sufficient confer jurisdiction district pass controversy since complaint alleged deprivation color state law constitutional rights within meaning equal protection issue neither frivolous insubstantial beyond district jurisdiction challenged regulation clearly rational require meaningful consideration cause action alleged patently without merit justify dismissal want jurisdiction bell hood whatever may ultimate resolution federal issues merits pp given constitutional question district jurisdiction also jurisdiction statutory claim latter claim decided first decided single district judge constitutional claim adjudicated statutory claim previously rejected pp state law claims pendent federal constitutional claims conferring jurisdiction district generally dismissed given advantages economy convenience unfairness litigants adjudicated particularly may dispositive decision avoid adjudication federal constitutional questions special reasons adjudicate pendent claim claim although called statutory reality constitutional claim arising supremacy clause since federal courts particularly appropriate bodies application principles mine workers gibbs pp white delivered opinion douglas brennan stewart marshall blackmun joined powell filed dissenting opinion burger rehnquist joined post rehnquist filed dissenting opinion burger powell joined post carl jay nathanson argued cause petitioners briefs steven cole henry freedman michael colodner assistant attorney general new york argued cause respondent lavine brief louis lefkowitz attorney general samuel hirshowitz first assistant attorney general justice white delivered opinion petitioners recipients public assistance cooperative aid families dependent children afdc program brought action district infant children representatives similarly situated afdc recipients suit challenged provision new york code rules regulations permitting state recoup prior unscheduled payments rent subsequent grants afdc program alleged recoupment regulation violated equal protection clause fourteenth amendment contravened pertinent provisions social security act governing afdc regulations promulgated thereunder administering federal agency department health education welfare hew action sought injunctive declaratory relief pursuant jurisdiction invoked district found equal protection claim substantial provided basis pendent jurisdiction adjudicate statutory claim alleged conflict state federal law hearing trial declared recoupment regulation contrary social security act hew regulations enjoined implementation enforcement following remand appeals reversed holding petitioners failed present substantial constitutional claim district lacked jurisdiction entertain either equal protection statutory claim jurisdictional question important one granted certiorari reasons set forth hold district jurisdiction consider petitioners attack recoupment regulation petitioners brought action provides every person color statute ordinance regulation custom usage state territory subjects causes subjected citizen person within jurisdiction thereof deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws shall liable party injured action law suit equity proper proceeding redress district courts shall original jurisdiction civil action authorized law commenced person redress deprivation color state law statute ordinance regulation custom usage right privilege immunity secured constitution act congress providing equal rights citizens persons within jurisdiction appeals ruled petitioners tendered substantial constitutional claim ordered dismissal entire action want subject matter jurisdiction principle applied appeals substantial question necessary support jurisdiction unexceptionable prior cases years repeatedly held federal courts without power entertain claims otherwise within jurisdiction attenuated unsubstantial absolutely devoid merit newburyport water newburyport wholly insubstantial bailey patterson obviously frivolous hannis distilling baltimore plainly unsubstantial levering garrigues morrin longer open discussion mcgilvra ross one principal decisions subject ex parte poresky held first absence diversity citizenship essential jurisdiction substantial federal question presented second necessary pass upon initial question jurisdiction third question may plainly unsubstantial either obviously without merit unsoundness clearly results previous decisions foreclose subject leave room inference question sought raised subject controversy levering garrigues morrin supra hannis distilling baltimore mcgilvra ross recently reviewed general question arose context convening constitutional insubstantiality purpose equated concepts essentially fictitious bailey patterson wholly insubstantial ibid obviously frivolous hannis distilling baltimore obviously without merit ex parte poresky limiting words wholly obviously cogent legal significance context effect prior decisions upon substantiality constitutional claims words import claims constitutionally insubstantial prior decisions inescapably render claims frivolous previous decisions merely render claims doubtful questionable merit render insubstantial purposes claim insubstantial unsoundness clearly results previous decisions foreclose subject leave room inference questions sought raised subject controversy ex parte poresky supra quoting hannis distilling baltimore supra see also levering garrigues morrin mcgilvra ross goosby osser jurisdiction essentially authority conferred congress decide given type case one way fair kohler die unquestionably authorized federal courts entertain suits redress deprivation color state law constitutional rights also plain complaint formally alleged deprivation district jurisdiction matter threshold determination turned whether question insubstantial consideration dandridge williams afdc recipients challenged maryland maximum grant regulation equal protection grounds held issue resolved inquiring whether classification rational basis finding sustained regulation dandridge evinced intention suspend operation equal protection clause field social welfare law state laws regulations must still rationally based free invidious discrimination see jefferson hackney carter stanton cf san antonio school district rodriguez judged standard say equal protection issue tendered complaint either frivolous insubstantial beyond jurisdiction district unaware cases specifically dealing similar regulation settling matter one way immediately obvious us face complaint recouping emergency rent payments future welfare disbursements petitioners argue deprived needy children parental default patently rational require meaningful consideration appeals rightly felt obliged measure petitioners complaint challenged regulation violated equal protection clause discriminating irrationally invidiously different classes recipients standard prescribed dandridge appeals reasoned without recoupment regulation subject preferred paid full rent normal monthly grant reasoned regulation provided incentive welfare recipients properly manage grants become delinquent rent concluded regulation rationally based substantial constitutional question within jurisdiction district presented reasoning respect rationality regulation propriety equal protection clause may ultimately prove correct immediately obvious decided cases plain equal protection clause think admonition bell hood followed jurisdiction defeated respondents seem contend possibility averments might fail state cause action petitioners actually recover well settled failure state proper cause action calls judgment merits dismissal want jurisdiction whether complaint cause action relief granted question law issues fact must decided assumed jurisdiction controversy later exercise jurisdiction determine allegations complaint state ground relief dismissal case merits want jurisdiction citations omitted ii given constitutional question district jurisdiction also jurisdiction statutory claim see supra latter decided first former reached statutory claim dispositive california human resources dept java dandridge williams rosado wyman king smith constitutional claim adjudicated statutory claim within jurisdiction single district judge swift wickham rosado wyman supra thus district judge sitting alone moved directly statutory claim decision appealed appeals although convened injunction issued statutory ground alone decided appeal procedure followed district initial determination substantiality adjudication statutory claim without convening may appear odds prior decisions see engineers chicago florida lime avocado growers jacobsen think accurately reflects recent evolution jurisprudence concern efficient operation lower federal courts constrictive view jurisdiction traditionally taken swift wickham supra citations omitted rosado wyman supra suggested ven constitutional claim declared moot appropriate course may well remand single district judge findings determination statutory claim rather encumber district time district calendars overburdened consuming time three federal judges matter required determined see swift wickham iii taking jaundiced view constitutional claim dissenters district dismiss supremacy clause statutory issue convene reject constitutional claim apparently exercise discretion district mine workers gibbs claimed pendent federal claim gibbs oriented state law claims pendent federal claims conferring jurisdiction district pendent jurisdiction state claims described doctrine discretion routinely exercised without considering advantages judicial economy convenience fairness litigants eedless decisions state law avoided matter comity promote justice parties procuring reading applicable law omitted light dissent treatment gibbs several observations appropriate first evident gibbs pendent state law claims always even almost always dismissed adjudicated contrary given advantages economy convenience unfairness litigants gibbs contemplates adjudication claims second reasonably follow considerations may warrant adjudication rather dismissal pendent state claims siler louisville nashville held state issues decided first claims dispositive federal questions need reached case decided without reference questions arising federal constitution course usually pursued departed without important reasons case think much better decide regard question local nature involving construction state statute authority therein given commission make order question rather unnecessarily decide various constitutional questions appearing record gibbs cite siler like cases purport change ordinary rule federal decide federal constitutional questions dispositive nonconstitutional ground available dissent uncritically relies siler ignores preference stated case deciding nonconstitutional claims even though pendent standing alone beyond jurisdiction federal third rationale gibbs centers upon considerations comity desirability reliable final determination state claim state courts familiarity controlling principles authority render final judgment considerations favoring state adjudication wholly irrelevant pendent claim federal beyond jurisdiction district failure satisfy amount controversy cases federal rendition federal law least lasting judgment state courts relevant cases purposes course decisions king smith rosado wyman dandridge williams jurisdictional claim arises federal constitution pendent claim although denominated statutory reality constitutional claim arising supremacy clause cases characteristically dealt statutory claim first appellees position question correct occasion reach constitutional issues ashwander tva brandeis concurring rosenberg fleuti dandridge williams supra none cases think jurisdiction fairly established federal gibbs must nevertheless decide constitutional issue avoid statutory claim upon weighing two claims statutory claim strong constitutional claim weak contrary justice harlan writing rosado wyman principles gibbs well mind noted pendent statutory question essentially one federal policy argument exercise pendent jurisdiction particularly strong gibbs observed special reason exercise pendent jurisdiction supremacy clause implicated federal courts particularly appropriate bodies application principles judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes financed largely federal government matching fund basis administered required participate program desire take advantage substantial federal funds available distribution needy children required submit afdc plan approval secretary health education welfare hew stat see advisory commission report intergovernmental relations statutory administrative controls associated federal grants public assistance plan must conform several requirements social security act rules regulations promulgated hew stat amended supp ii see also hew handbook public assistance administration pt iv social security act hew withholds federal funds implementation state afdc plan compliance act department regulations hew may also terminate partially entirely federal payments administration state plan failure comply substantially provision required section act included plan see king smith supra rosado wyman supra challenged regulation provides pertinent part payment services supplies already received assistance grants shall made meet current needs following specified circumstances payment services supplies already received deemed current need recipient public assistance evicted nonpayment rent grant previously issued advance allowance may provided prevent eviction rehouse family advance shall deducted subsequent grants equal amounts next six months rent advance one month one rent advance month period subsequent grants rent shall provided restricted payments accordance part title petitioners alleged new york state recoupment regulation contrary following provisions federal statute regulations assumed contrary fact funds extended recipient satisfy current emergency rent need remain available income family need mandated recoupment period title state pertinent part state plan aid services needy families children must except may otherwise provided clause provide administering state agency shall determining need take consideration income resources child relative claiming aid families dependent children individual living home child relative whose needs state determines considered determining need child relative claiming aid well expenses reasonably attributable earning income provide effective july individuals wishing make application aid families dependent children shall opportunity aid families dependent children shall furnished reasonable promptness eligible individuals requirements state plans state plan oaa afdc ab aptd aabd must specified appeal district entry injunction appeals without extended discussion found jurisdiction action without passing merits district findings conclusions appeals one judge dissenting ordered remand determine whether recoupment prior advance rent payments current grants reduction grant trigger new york procedures remand district allowed additional parties received fair hearings intervene file complaint invitation hew filed amicus curiae brief concluded new york regulation contravene federal requirements assumes particular months existence income resources definition currently available months brief petitioners appendix district held recoupment regulation invalid violative social security act hew regulations enjoined enforcement implementation view disposition case reach question whether wholly aside rationale relied upon district valid grounds existed sustaining jurisdiction entertain decide claim conflict federal state law suggested example conflict question constitutional matter within meaning connecticut union welfare employees white purposes interpreting applying provision claim conflict federal state law denominated claim requiring swift wickham swift recognized suit state statute declared void secure benefits federal statute state law allegedly conflict succeed without ultimate resort federal constitution sure determination state statute void obstructing federal statute rest supremacy clause federal constitution moreover previously determined state afdc laws conform social security act hew regulations invalidated supremacy clause see townsend swank therefore urged secured constitution language construed exclude supremacy clause issues question leave another day petitioners contend authorizes suits vindicate rights laws well constitution suit brought vindicate statutory right social security act suit act congress providing protection civil rights including right vote within meaning argue event particular general construed invest district courts jurisdiction hear suit authorized issues also reach see rosado wyman see also herzer federal jurisdiction welfare claims harv civ lib rev note federal jurisdiction challenges state welfare programs rev note federal judicial review state welfare practices rev several past decisions concerning challenges federal categorical assistance recipients state welfare regulations either assumed jurisdiction existed stated without analysis see carleson remillard carter stanton townsend swank california human resources dept java dandridge williams goldberg kelly king smith damico california none cases jurisdictional issue squarely raised contention petitions certiorari jurisdictional statements briefs filed see edelman jordan post moreover questions jurisdiction passed prior decisions sub silentio never considered bound subsequent case finally brings jurisdictional issue us cranch king mfg augusta brandeis dissenting therefore approach question district jurisdiction entertain suit open one calling canvass relevant jurisdictional considerations florida lime avocado growers jacobsen frankfurter dissenting district courts ruled similarly drafted state recoupment provisions found rationally related declared purposes afdc program therefore invalid social security act hew regulations cooper laupheimer supp ed district finding equal protection claim substantial invalidated pennsylvania regulation recouped period alleged overpayments family assistance grants found regulation inconsistent social security act several reasons including inter alia punishment dependent child depriving substantial amount afdc assistance mother either mistakenly fraudulently obtained extra payment months ago state justify arbitrary method restitution asserting proper management funds produce cash reserve state permit child starve deprived aid needs mother budgetary mismanagement social security act specifies remedies situation bradford juras supp district found jurisdiction constitutional statutory challenge oregon regulation authorizing recoupment overpayments current assistance grants measuring regulation goals afdc program invalidated inconsistent federal law primary concern congress establishing afdc program welfare protection needy dependent child king smith concern thwarted recoupment current grants takes money child penalize misconduct parent policy afdc program requires children equal needs treated equally fact acted wrongfully past withholding information justify reducing subsistence level children needy children although explore question depth first appeals panel case passed upon injunction found jurisdiction district pursuant authority decision carter stanton noted suit challenging state welfare regulation federal district characterization fourteenth amendment question presented insubstantial based face complaint seems error dissent question majority jurisdictional determination app regulation question nycrr rational basis since state limited amount funds available allocate welfare recipients recoupment regulation reasonably designed ensure sufficient funds available recipients level set state legislature receiving advance payment plaintiffs gotten normal grant without recoupment regulation plaintiffs preferred position welfare recipients paid full rent normal grant purposes equal protection served treating alike without granting special favor misappropriated rent allowance recoupment provision disincentive welfare recipients manage grants funds available pay rent month recoupment provision encourages proper money management entirely acceptable incidental purpose welfare legislation doubt ways state accomplish ends served use recoupment regulation however us evaluate wisdom state choice means means rationally related proper end case power go hart keith exchange federal ascertained plaintiff claims insubstantial face engineers chicago consideration merits claim relevant determination jurisdiction subject matter baker carr also cited approval chief judge magruder concurrence strachman palmer advising ederal courts overeager hold determination issues might appropriately left settlement state litigation numerous decisions stated general proposition endorsed siler federal properly vested jurisdiction may pass state local law question without deciding federal constitutional issues proceeded dispose case solely nonfederal ground see hillsborough cromwell waggoner estate wichita county chicago kendall gas railroad risty chicago cases illustrate practice wisdom federal policy avoiding constitutional adjudication absolutely essential disposition case decisions addressed federal state claims random fashion see atlantic coast line daughton southern watts generally denied relief federal nonfederal grounds asserted nonfederal claim dispositive daughton watts written justice brandeis celebrated concurring opinion ashwander tva relied upon siler summarizing general rule case decided either two grounds one involving constitutional question question statutory construction general law decide latter dissent also relies upon hurn oursler hurn expressly took account one aspect rule stated siler federal acquires jurisdiction case virtue federal questions involved may omit decide federal issues decide case local state questions alone unmistakable clarity reaffirmed siler siler like cases announce rule broadly without qualification perceive sufficient reason exception suggested stated decisions rule general application hold see also armstrong paint varnish works closely analogous context recognized special capability federal courts adjudicate pendent federal claims romero international terminal operating injured spanish seaman filed suit federal claiming damages jones act general maritime law unseaworthiness ship maintenance cure negligence jurisdiction invoked jones act general diversity jurisdiction expressing view petitioner alleged jones act claim substantial enough confer jurisdiction statute held general maritime law claims cognizable means however end inquiry district may jurisdiction petitioner general maritime law claims pendent jurisdiction jones act course considerations call exercise pendent jurisdiction state claim related pending federal cause action within appropriate scope doctrine hurn oursler involved related claims based federal maritime law perceive barrier exercise pendent jurisdiction limited circumstances us emphasis added mr join dissenting opinion justice rehnquist believe expresses correct view appropriate result claim district independent jurisdiction appended constitutional claim hope success merits wise exercise discretion lies heart doctrine pendent jurisdiction rosado wyman mine workers gibbs compelling district decide ancillary claim premise jurisdiction meritless constitutional claim impress efficacious performance discretionary responsibility write briefly emphasize view majority misread import gibbs opinion supra particularly manner links gibbs siler louisville nashville like cases gibbs involved state claim arose transaction federal law claim conferred federal jurisdiction majority apparently reads gibbs siler together mandating decision state law claim without regard frailty federal claim federal jurisdiction rests see ante words majority opinion appears saying federal constitutional claim marginal one issue capable supporting pendent federal jurisdiction state claim indeed state claim decided exclusion federal issue view particularly erroneous interpretation pendent jurisdiction doctrine reading broaden federal question jurisdiction encompass matters state law whenever imaginative litigant think federal claim matter insubstantial related transaction giving rise state claim extension gibbs quite unnecessary since confronted case pendent claim matter state law dictum nevertheless prompt courts follow view potential mischief repeat quotation gibbs relied brother rehnquist indicates far departed rationale precedent ecognition federal wide latitude decide ancillary questions state law imply must tolerate litigant effort impose upon effect state law case appears state claim constitutes real body case federal claim appendage state claim may fairly dismissed justice rehnquist chief justice justice powell join dissenting decision case resolves legal question necessarily properly cast legal terms according federal district acquired jurisdiction wholly insubstantial federal claim power decide related claims lack independent jurisdictional basis applying analysis present case finds equal protection claim pleaded petitioners sufficient satisfy somewhat hazy definition substantiality appears approve district exercise pendent jurisdiction claim alleging conflict state federal welfare regulations since admonished may shut eyes judges know men practical well legal consequences decision squarely faced wake king smith rosado wyman lower federal courts confronted massive influx cases challenging state welfare regulations principal claim plaintiffs typical case state regulation conflicts governing federal regulations invalid supremacy clause constitution allegation presents federal claim sufficient satisfy first jurisdictional requirement federal question jurisdictional statute many plaintiffs find statute second requirement matter controversy exceed sum impossible meet normally therefore cases left congress surely understood imposed jurisdictional limitation state courts likewise charged enforcing constitution avoid natural disposition however plaintiffs cases turned narrowly drawn federal jurisdictional statute requiring minimum jurisdictional amount provision relevant case reads district courts shall original jurisdiction civil action authorized law commenced person redress deprivation color state law statute ordinance regulation custom usage right privilege immunity secured constitution act congress providing equal rights citizens persons within jurisdiction history pendent jurisdiction long complex roots go back osborn bank wheat said jurisdiction federal courts extended federal issues also nonfederal issues essential settlement federal claim subsequent decision cast doubt upon wisdom chief justice marshall exposition case since different result forced substantial federal cases state courts adjudication simply involved nonfederal issues well federal ones doctrine expanded siler louisville nashville upheld power district founded jurisdiction upon federal constitutional claims bypass constitutional questions decide issue local law said lower right decide questions case even though decided federal questions adversely party raising even omitted decide decided case local state questions time cautioned course federal question must merely colorable fraudulently set mere purpose endeavoring give jurisdiction returned question pendent jurisdiction hurn oursler levering garrigues morrin cases agreed substantial federal question necessary confer initial jurisdiction district test must met whether pendent jurisdiction involved hurn attempted define necessary relationship pendent claim claim conferring jurisdiction according lower federal exercise pendent jurisdiction separate ground alleged support single cause action separate cause action recent extensive treatment subject occurred mine workers gibbs hurn spoken terms causes action term superseded adoption federal rules civil procedure gibbs redefined necessary relation federal nonfederal claims understandable terms restating substantiality test pretty much language earlier cases continued state federal claims must derive common nucleus operative fact considered without regard federal state character plaintiff claims ordinarily expected try one judicial proceeding assuming substantiality federal issues power federal courts hear whole omitted emphasis original federal claims dismissed trial even though insubstantial jurisdictional sense state claims dismissed well ibid omitted similarly appears state issues substantially predominate whether terms proof scope issues raised comprehensiveness remedy sought state claims may dismissed without prejudice left resolution state tribunals system sensitivity legitimate interests state national governments national government anxious though may vindicate protect federal rights federal interests always endeavors ways unduly interfere legitimate activities younger harris rosado wyman heavily relied upon support position intimation constitutional claim weak one pleaded purpose securing federal jurisdiction stronger claim rather constitutional claim proved moot plainly stated unlike insubstantiality apparent outset mootness frequently matter beyond control parties may occur substantial time energy expended looking toward resolution dispute plaintiffs entitled bring federal gibbs decision must understood separate parts first held jurisdiction attach unless claim jurisdiction asserted met requirement substantiality unless pendent claim sufficiently related jurisdictional claim constitute single case constitution second admonished jurisdiction even found exist exercised judiciously relatively permissive standards applied issue whether consider pendent claim guide ultimate decision whether consider pendent claim considerations judicial economy convenience fairness litigants served pendent claim predominate scope worth judicial claim doctrine pendent jurisdiction applied convinced district lacked jurisdiction equal protection claim thin one even wrong point seems clear decision exercise pendent jurisdiction supremacy clause claim based discretionary considerations outlined gibbs supra ii district simply found equal protection claim case substantial proceeded without discussion statutory claim appeals reversing determination district found claim insubstantial therefore need go merely disagrees question substantiality reinstating district jurisdiction unfortunately process analysis seems wrong treatment jurisdictional question failure treat discretionary aspects pendent jurisdiction whatever legal terminology applied equal protection claim plaintiffs case one clear fact claim good brief petitioners recipients public assistance aid families dependent children program received funds new york usual monthly grants prevent eviction places lodging nonpayment rent state pursuant provision new york code rules regulations challenged district sought recover unusual expenditures making deductions next succeeding months petitioners normal monthly grants complaint petitioners contended new york recoupment procedure deprived equal protection laws one searches vain either petitioners brief opinions district reason claim meets even minimal test substantiality seem extraordinary paid petitioners normal monthly entitlement order meet emergency situation state sought recoup payments period time district finding claim substantial cited bradford juras supp decision district found jurisdiction similar constitutional claim decided case statutory grounds bradford however simply stated jurisdiction without discussion opinion sheds light opinion district simply reasoning respect rationality regulation propriety equal protection clause may ultimately prove correct immediately obvious decided cases plain equal protection clause ante therefore agree equal protection claim pleaded sufficient confer jurisdiction district even assuming lower may refer pleadings making determination question jurisdiction analysis need made majority seems imply legal vacuum say previous decisions foreclosed question unless prior case specifically deal regulation neglects second branch test enunciated levering garrigues morrin repeated later cases claim insubstantial obviously without merit today rationale appears sufficient jurisdiction plaintiff able plead claim straight face district able dismiss want jurisdiction claim plainly carries hope success merits lack promise turn evident recent decisions rejecting claims similar thesis laying rules clearly require dismissal merits assuming however district jurisdiction seems clear gibbs equal protection claim support supremacy clause claim also asserted petitioners test exercising discretion must practical one involving type judgments reasonable lawyer evaluating respective strengths weaknesses case might undertake case highly improbable lawyer familiar cases place much faith success equal protection claim fact examination complaint shows substantially attention paid supremacy clause claim claims fourteenth amendment least district chose exercise pendent jurisdiction made identifiable determination equal protection clause simply asserted purpose giving jurisdiction heart plaintiffs case mind seems classic case statutory tail wagging constitutional dog iii thus even appeals may erroneously resolved question jurisdiction result reached correct terms wise exercise jurisdiction whether equal protection claim pleaded case meets threshold substantiality jurisdiction federal courts claim surely convince district main purpose anything secure jurisdiction promising supremacy clause claim presented situation district declined exercise pendent jurisdiction supremacy clause claim referred equal protection claim since failure seems abuse discretion gibbs dissent relevant provision reads follows district courts shall original jurisdiction civil actions wherein matter controversy exceeds sum value exclusive interest costs arises constitution laws treaties construction judicial power union extends effectively beneficially important class cases depend character cause opposite construction judicial power never extended whole case expressed constitution parts cases present particular question involving construction constitution law say never extended whole case circumstance points involved shall disable congress authorizing courts union take jurisdiction original cause equally disables congress authorizing courts take jurisdiction whole cause appeal thus restricted single question cause words obviously intended secure claim rights constitution laws treaties trial federal courts restricted insecure remedy appeal upon insulated point received shape may given another tribunal forced osborn bank wheat siler specifically noted constitutional claim fraudulently pleaded confer jurisdiction pendent claim today heavy emphasis deciding state issues preference constitutional ones ante seems imply doctrine controlling even constitutional claim pleaded mere purpose endeavoring give jurisdiction agree numerous cases cited opinion stand sensible policy cases decided nonconstitutional grounds possible stand proposition claims otherwise dismissed principles discussed mine workers gibbs heard simply avoid constitutional claim conferred jurisdiction first place see infra cases competing equally important policy safeguarding limited jurisdiction federal courts entitled weight appears give levering supra stated whether objection bill complaint fails state case federal statute raises question jurisdiction merits determined application well settled rule bill complaint sets forth substantial claim case presented within federal jurisdiction however upon consideration may decide legal sufficiency facts alleged support claim jurisdiction distinguished merits wanting claim set forth pleading plainly unsubstantial cases stated rule variety ways effect federal question averred may plainly unsubstantial either obviously without merit unsoundness clearly results previous decisions foreclose subject leave room inference questions sought raised subject controversy hurn oursler rule go far permit federal assume jurisdiction separate distinct cause action joined complaint federal cause action distinction observed case two distinct grounds support single cause action alleged one presents federal question case two separate distinct causes action alleged one federal character former federal question averred plainly wanting substance federal even though federal ground established may nevertheless retain dispose case upon ground latter may upon cause action emphasis original mine workers gibbs also stated ecognition federal wide latitude decide ancillary questions state law imply must tolerate litigant effort impose upon effect state law case appears state claim constitutes real body case federal claim appendage state claim may fairly dismissed portion petitioners complaint setting forth equal protection claim full said regulation irrationally invidiously discriminates plaintiff victims eviction basis exists law fact consistent purposes social security act reducing level payments plaintiffs forced live far subsistence levels provided persons said regulation applies wholly different standard determining grant levels plaintiffs income resource exemptions levy standard applicable persons violation equal protection clause fourteenth amendment constitution dandridge stated conflicting claims morality intelligence raised opponents proponents almost every measure certainly including one us intractable economic social even philosophical problems presented public welfare assistance programs business constitution may impose certain procedural safeguards upon systems welfare administration goldberg kelly constitution empower state officials charged difficult responsibility allocating limited public welfare funds among myriad potential recipients cf steward mach davis helvering davis petitioners originally sought convene consider constitutional claims later withdrew request pursuant stipulation parties case tried single judge issue claimed statutory conflict goosby osser specifies must convened hear constitutional questions within jurisdiction substantial true course federal courts commonly avoid deciding constitutional questions alternative grounds decision available see ashwander tva brandeis concurring application principle cases constitutional claim pleaded primarily confer jurisdiction pendent claim lead circular reasoning theory claim congress provided jurisdiction single judge determined improperly brought federal become preferred ground decision simply wished avoid claim congress granted jurisdiction first place turn pendent claim pendent jurisdiction properly assumed gibbs may appropriate presence constitutional claim might therefore avoided independent basis hearing pendent claim rare cases course may disagree single judge view constitutional claim lacks merit resolve constitutional issue plaintiff favor point plaintiff relief case need go concededly constitutional decision rendered statutory decision might possible cost cases likely arise seems less expensive cost allowing federal jurisdiction unnecessarily expanded