“大学生英语文库”是一套面向中国大学生的英语系列读物，各本均为注释性读本，有助于通过研读文化经典，提高人文素养。
《公平机制——法律体系和程序导论》主要介绍了美国法律的起源，并分类介绍了民法、刑法、行政诉讼法、军事法、法庭等方面的大概情况。对于想了解英美法系的读者来说是一本十分有用的知识性读本。
本书的编写目的在于为非法律专业的学生和一般读者提供一本了解美国司法机构程序的基础读本，同时为法律专业学生和法律专业人士提供一本专业方面的英语读物。
本书语言规范、标准，难度适当。读者在了解美国法律制度的同时，可提高英语阅读能力，并学到大量有关法律的英文表达法和词汇。

1 How legal rules are made
Legal rules and“laW”
The formulation of the law：cases and statutes
English ancestry of American law
Development ofspecial doctrines and procedure “in equity”
Survivals of doctrines and procedures offormerly independent courts
Lack ofuniformity in state law
2 The dual court structure
3 Civil proceedings：objectives
Obtaining payment of money
Foreclosure of lien
Terminating existing wrong。___——preventing threatened wrong
Protection of creditors ofinsolvent or embarrassed debtors
Declaration of rights
4 Civil proceedings：jurisdiction
Cases brought only in the federal court
Cases in either state orfederal courts
Cases brought only in state courts
2 The Machinery of Justice
State in which action may be brought
Jurisdiction by attachment
Court in which action may be brought
5 Civil proceedings~procedure
Pleadings
Law applicable to issues oflaw
Pre-trial proceedings
Right to jury trial
Trial of issues offact
The future of the civil jury
Appeaf
Voluntary arbitration as a substitute for civil litigation
6 Criminal procedings:investigation arrest and accustaion
7 Criminal proceedings plea trial scntence appeal
8 Administrative justice
9 Military justice
10 The courts as a check on the exectutive
11 The Court as a check on legislation
12 Manning the machinery of justice