# § 1390. Scope
**(a)** **Venue Defined.—** As used in this chapter, the term “venue” refers to the geographic specification of the proper court or courts for the litigation of a civil action that is within the subject-matter jurisdiction of the district courts in general, and does not refer to any grant or restriction of subject-matter jurisdiction providing for a civil action to be adjudicated only by the district court for a particular district or districts.
**(b)** **Exclusion of Certain Cases.—** Except as otherwise provided by law, this chapter shall not govern the venue of a civil action in which the district court exercises the jurisdiction conferred by section 1333, except that such civil actions may be transferred between district courts as provided in this chapter.
**(c)** **Clarification Regarding Cases Removed From State Courts.—** This chapter shall not determine the district court to which a civil action pending in a State court may be removed, but shall govern the transfer of an action so removed as between districts and divisions of the United States district courts.
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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 112–63, title II, § 201(a), Dec. 7, 2011, 125 Stat. 762.)
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date
> **“(1)** shall take effect upon the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 7, 2011]; and
>
> **“(2)** shall apply to—
>
> **“(A)** any action that is commenced in a United States district court on or after such effective date; and
>
> **“(B)** any action that is removed from a State court to a United States district court and that had been commenced, within the meaning of State law, on or after such effective date.”
, , , provided that: