Rule 1.Scope and Purpose
Last amended December 1, 2015 · Last verified June 30, 2026
Full Text of Rule 1
Amendment History
(Amended December 29, 1948, effective October 20, 1949; February 28, 1966, effective July 1, 1966; April 22, 1993, effective December 1, 1993; April 30, 2007, effective December 1, 2007; April 29, 2015, effective December 1, 2015.)
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1 is the opening rule, and it does two things. First, it fixes the reach of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: they govern the procedure in every civil action and proceeding in the United States district courts, with the exceptions Rule 81 lists for certain specialized proceedings. Second, it states the goal the rest of the rules serve.
That goal is the famous command that the rules be construed, administered, and employed by the court and the parties “to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action and proceeding.” The 1993 amendment added “administered” to underline the court’s active duty to manage cases, and the 2015 amendment added “and employed by the court and the parties” to make clear that lawyers and litigants share that responsibility. Courts often cite Rule 1 when they read another rule in the way that best avoids needless cost and delay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rule 1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure say?
It states that the rules govern civil actions in the U.S. district courts (except as Rule 81 provides) and must be construed, administered, and employed to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action.
What does “just, speedy, and inexpensive” mean in practice?
It is the interpretive north star for the whole rulebook: when a rule could be read more than one way, courts favor the reading that resolves the case justly while avoiding unnecessary expense and delay. The 2015 amendment made the parties, not just the judge, responsible for advancing that goal.
Do the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure apply to every federal case?
They apply to civil actions in the federal district courts, but Rule 81 carves out and qualifies their application to certain proceedings, and separate rule sets govern criminal, appellate, and bankruptcy matters.