3. Legal Procedure
3. 法律程序
The American legal system operates under what is known as adversary system.
美国法律制度的运作采用对抗辩论式诉讼制度。
Under the system, the proceeding is presided over by a theoretically unbiased and essentially passive judge,
诉讼过程由法官控制，法官从理论上讲是不偏不倚的，而且往往是被动的，
who is responsible for guiding the proceeding according to certain procedural rules and for making decisions on questions of laws that arise.
法官负责根据程序规定引导诉讼，并就出现的法律问题做出裁决。
3.1 Complaint and Answer
3.1 起诉和答辩
A civil action is normally initiated by filling with the court a complaint，
民事诉讼通常是由被称作原告的一方当事人向法院提交起诉书开始的，
where one party known as plaintiff sets out the basis for the court's jurisdiction over the matter and the essential claims the plaintiff has against the defendant.
起诉书中要说明法院对该案件具有管辖权的法律依据及原告的诉讼请求。
The defendant needs not respond until he/she receives a summons (usually accompanied by a copy of the complaint) issued by the court.
被告只有在收到法院发出的传票（通常附有一份起诉书）以后才有义务回答。
Filling of a complaint and serving of a summons commences the proceeding.
提交起诉书以及送达传票标志着诉讼的开始。
While properly served with the summons the defendant must file an answer to the complaint within the stated time.
被告收到传票后，必须在指定时间内向法院递交答辩状。
In the answer the defendant shall seek to prove that the plaintiff is mistaken as to what happened factually and/or as to the defendant's legal liability.
被告在答辩状中会试图证明原告陈述的事实以及指控被告的法律责任是错误的。
The answer would include admissions or denials of the factual allegations of the complaint.
答辩中应对起诉书中所陈述的事实部分做出承认或者否认。