第四十一条 人民法院审理第二审民事案件，由审判员组成合议庭。

Article 41 The people's court of second instance shall try civil cases by a collegial panel of judges.

合议庭的成员人数，必须是单数。

The collegial panel must have an odd number of members.

发回重审的案件，原审人民法院应当按照第一审程序另行组成合议庭。

"For the retrial of a remanded case, the people's court of first instance shall form a new collegial panel in accordance with the procedure of first instance."

审理再审案件，原来是第一审的，按照第一审程序另行组成合议庭；

" If a case for retrial was originally tried at first instance, a new collegial panel shall be formed according to the procedure of first instance; "

原来是第二审的或者是上级人民法院提审的，按照第二审程序另行组成合议庭。

"if the case was originally tried at second instance or was brought by a people's court at a higher level to it for trial, a new collegial panel shall be formed according to the procedure of second instance."

第四十二条 合议庭的审判长由院长或者庭长指定审判员一人担任；院长或者庭长参加审判的，由院长或者庭长担任。

"Article 42 The president of the court or the chief judge of a division of the court shall designate a judge to serve as the presiding judge of the collegial panel; if the president or the chief judge participates in the trial, he himself shall serve as the presiding judge."

第四十三条 合议庭评议案件，实行少数服从多数的原则。

"Article 43 When deliberating a case, a collegial panel shall observe the rule of majority. "

评议应当制作笔录，由合议庭成员签名。

"The deliberations shall be recorded in writing, and the transcript shall be signed by the members of the collegial panel."

评议中的不同意见，必须如实记入笔录。

Dissenting opinions in the deliberations must be truthfully entered in the transcript.

第四十四条 审判人员应当依法秉公办案。

Article 44 The judicial officers shall deal with all cases impartially and in accordance with the law.

审判人员不得接受当事人及其诉讼代理人请客送礼。

The judicial officers shall not accept any treat or gift from the parties or their agents ad litem.

审判人员有贪污受贿，徇私舞弊，枉法裁判行为的，应当追究法律责任；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。

"Any judicial officer who commits embezzlement, accepts bribes, engages in malpractice for personal benefits or who perverts the law in passing judgment shall be investigated for legal responsibility; if the act constitutes a crime, the offender shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to the law."

第四章 回 避

Chapter IV Withdrawal

第四十五条 审判人员有下列情形之一的，必须回避，当事人有权用口头或者书面方式申请他们回避：

"Article 45 A judicial officer shall of himself withdraw from the case, and the parties thereto shall be entitled to apply orally or in writing for his withdrawal in any of the following circumstances: "

（一）是本案当事人或者当事人、诉讼代理人的近亲属；

(1) he being a party to the case or a near relative of a party or an agent ad litem in the case;

（二）与本案有利害关系；

(2) he being an interested party in the case;

（三）与本案当事人有其他关系，可能影响对案件公正审理的。

"or (3) he having some other kind of relationship with a party to the case, which might affect the impartiality of the trial."

前款规定，适用于书记员、翻译人员、鉴定人、勘验人。

"The above provisions shall also apply to clerks, interpreters, expert witnesses and inspectionpersonnel."

第四十六条 当事人提出回避申请，应当说明理由，在案件开始审理时提出；

"Article 46 In applying for the withdrawal, the party shall state the reason and submit the application at the beginning of the proceedings; "

回避事由在案件开始审理后知道的，也可以在法庭辩论终结前提出。

the application may also be submitted before the closing of arguments in court if the reason for the withdrawal is known to him only after the proceedings begin.

被申请回避的人员在人民法院作出是否回避的决定前，应当暂停参与本案的工作，但案件需要采取紧急措施的除外。

"Pending a decision by the people's court regarding the withdrawal applied for, the judicial officer concerned shall temporarily suspend his participation in the proceedings, with the exception, however, of cases that require the taking of emergency measures."

第四十七条 院长担任审判长时的回避，由审判委员会决定；审判人员的回避，由院长决定；其他人员的回避，由审判长决定。

Article 47 The withdrawal of the presiding judge who is president of the court shall be decided by the judicial committee; the withdrawal of judicial officers shall be decided by the court president; and the withdrawal of other personnel by the presiding judge.

第四十八条 人民法院对当事人提出的回避申请，应当在申请提出的三日内，以口头或者书面形式作出决定。

Article 48 The decision of a people's court on an application made by any party for withdrawal shall be made orally or in writing within three days after the application was made.

申请人对决定不服的，可以在接到决定时申请复议一次。

"If the applicant is not satisfied with the decision, he may apply for reconsideration which could be granted only once. "

复议期间，被申请回避的人员，不停止参与本案的工作。

"During the period of reconsideration, the person whose withdrawal has been applied for shall not suspend his participation in the proceedings."

人民法院对复议申请，应当在三日内作出复议决定，并通知复议申请人。

The decision of a people's court on the reconsideration shall be made within three days after receiving the application and the applicant shall be notified of it accordingly.

第五章 诉讼参加人 第一节 当事人

Chapter V Participants in Proceedings　Section 1 Parties

第四十九条 公民、法人和其他组织可以作为民事诉讼的当事人。

"Article 49 Any citizen, legal person and any other organization may become a party to a civil action."

法人由其法定代表人进行诉讼。

Legal persons shall be represented by their legal representatives in the litigation.

其他组织由其主要负责人进行诉讼。

Other organizations shall be represented by their principal heads in the proceedings.

第五十条 当事人有权委托代理人，提出回避申请，收集、提供证据，进行辩论，请求调解，提起上诉，申请执行。

"Article 50 Parties to an action shall have the right to appoint agents, apply for withdrawals, collect and provide evidence, proffer arguments, request conciliation, file an appeal and apply for execution."

当事人可以查阅本案有关材料，并可以复制本案有关材料和法律文书。

Parties to an action may have access to materials pertaining to the case and make copies thereof and other legal documents pertaining to the case.

查阅、复制本案有关材料的范围和办法由最高人民法院规定。

The scope of and rules for consulting and making copies of them shall be specified by the Supreme People's Court.

当事人必须依法行使诉讼权利，遵守诉讼秩序，履行发生法律效力的判决书、裁定书和调解书。

"Parties to an action must exercise their litigation rights in accordance with the law, observe the procedures and carry out legally effective written judgments or orders and conciliation statements."

第五十一条 双方当事人可以自行和解。

Article 51 The two parties may reach a compromise of their own accord.

第五十二条 原告可以放弃或者变更诉讼请求。

Article 52 The plaintiff may relinquish or modify his claims.

被告可以承认或者反驳诉讼请求，有权提起反诉。

The defendant may admit or rebut the claims and shall have the right to file counterclaims.

第五十三条 当事人一方或者双方为二人以上，其诉讼标的是共同的，或者诉讼标的是同一种类、人民法院认为可以合并审理并经当事人同意的，为共同诉讼。

"Article 53 When one party or both parties consist of two or more than two persons, their object of action being the same or of the same category and the people's court considers that, with the consent of the parties, the action can be tried combined, it is a joint action."

共同诉讼的一方当事人对诉讼标的有共同权利义务的，其中一人的诉讼行为经其他共同诉讼人承认，对其他共同诉讼人发生效力；

"If a party of two or more persons to a joint action have common rights and obligations with respect to the object of action and the act of any one of them is recognized by the others of the party, such an act shall be valid for all the rest of the party; "

对诉讼标的没有共同权利义务的，其中一人的诉讼行为对其他共同诉讼人不发生效力。

"if a party of two or more persons have no common rights and obligations with respect to the object of action, the act of any one of them shall not be valid for the rest."

第五十四条 当事人一方人数众多的共同诉讼，可以由当事人推选代表人进行诉讼。

"Article 54 If the persons comprising a party to a joint action is large in number, the party may elect representatives from among themselves to act for them in the litigation. "

代表人的诉讼行为对其所代表的当事人发生效力，但代表人变更、放弃诉讼请求或者承认对方当事人的诉讼请求，进行和解，必须经被代表的当事人同意。

"The acts of such representatives in the litigation shall be valid for the party they represent. However, modification or waiver of claims or admission of the claims of the other party or pursuing a compromise with the other party by the representatives shall be subject to the consent of the party they represent."

第五十五条 诉讼标的是同一种类、当事人一方人数众多在起诉时人数尚未确定的，人民法院可以发出公告，说明案件情况和诉讼请求，通知权利人在一定期间向人民法院登记。

"Article 55 Where the object of action is of the same category and the persons comprising one of the parties is large but uncertain in number at the commencement of the action, the people's court may issue a public notice, stating the particulars and claims of the case and informing those entitled to participate in the action to register their rights with the people's court within a fixed period of time."

向人民法院登记的权利人可以推选代表人进行诉讼；

Those who have registered their rights with the people's court may elect representatives from among themselves to proceed with the litigation;

推选不出代表人的，人民法院可以与参加登记的权利人商定代表人。

"if the election fails its purpose, such representatives may be determined by the people's court through consultation with those who have registered their rights with the court."

代表人的诉讼行为对其所代表的当事人发生效力，但代表人变更、放弃诉讼请求或者承认对方当事人的诉讼请求，进行和解，必须经被代表的当事人同意。

"The acts of such representative in the litigation shall be valid for the party they represent; however, modification or waiver of claims or admission of the claims of the other party or pursuing a compromise with the other party by the representatives shall be subject to the consent of the party they represent."

人民法院作出的判决、裁定，对参加登记的全体权利人发生效力。

The judgments or written orders rendered by the people's court shall be valid for all those who have registered their rights with the court.

未参加登记的权利人在诉讼时效期间提起诉讼的，适用该判决、裁定。

Such judgments or written orders shall apply to those who have not registered their rights but have instituted legal proceedings during period of limitation of the action.

第五十六条 对当事人双方的诉讼标的，第三人认为有独立请求权的，有权提起诉讼。

"Article 56 If a third party considers that he has an independent claim to the object of action of both parties, he shall have the right to bring an action."

对当事人双方的诉讼标的，第三人虽然没有独立请求权，但案件处理结果同他有法律上的利害关系的，可以申请参加诉讼，或者由人民法院通知他参加诉讼。

"Where the outcome of the case will affect a third party's legal interest, such party, though having no independent claim to the object of action of both parties, may file a request to participate in the proceedings or the people's court shall notify the third party to participate. "

人民法院判决承担民事责任的第三人，有当事人的诉讼权利义务。

A third party that is to bear civil liability in accordance with the judgment of the people's court shall be entitled to the rights and obligations of a party in litigation.

第二节 诉讼代理人

Section 2 Agents ad Litem

第五十七条 无诉讼行为能力人由他的监护人作为法定代理人代为诉讼。

Article 57 Any person with no legal capacity to engage in litigation shall have his guardian or guardians as statutory agents to act for him in a lawsuit.

法定代理人之间互相推诿代理责任的，由人民法院指定其中一人代为诉讼。

"If the statutory agents try to shift responsibility as agents ad litem upon one another, the people's court shall appoint one of them to represent the person in litigation."

第五十八条 当事人、法定代理人可以委托一至二人作为诉讼代理人。

"Article 58 A party to an action, or statutory agent may appoint one or two persons to act as his agents ad litem."

律师、当事人的近亲属、有关的社会团体或者所在单位推荐的人、经人民法院许可的其他公民，都可以被委托为诉讼代理人。

"A lawyer, a near relative of the party, a person recommended by a relevant social organization or a unit to which the party belongs or any other citizen approved by the people's court may be appointed as the party's agent ad litem."

第五十九条 委托他人代为诉讼，必须向人民法院提交由委托人签名或者盖章的授权委托书。

"Article 59 When a person appoints another to act on his behalf in litigation, he must submit to the people's court a power of attorney bearing his signature or seal."

授权委托书必须记明委托事项和权限。

The power of attorney must specify the matters entrusted and the powers conferred.

诉讼代理人代为承认、放弃、变更诉讼请求，进行和解，提起反诉或者上诉，必须有委托人的特别授权。

"An agent ad litem must obtain special powers from his principal to admit, waive or modify claims, or to compromise or to file a counterclaim or an appeal."

侨居在国外的中华人民共和国公民从国外寄交或者托交的授权委托书，必须经中华人民共和国驻该国的使领馆证明；

A power of attorney mailed or delivered through others by a citizen of the People's Republic of China residing abroad must be certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate accredited to that country.

没有使领馆的，由与中华人民共和国有外交关系的第三国驻该国的使领馆证明，再转由中华人民共和国驻该第三国使领馆证明，或者由当地的爱国华侨团体证明。

"If there is no Chinese embassy or consulate in that country, the power of attorney must be certified by an embassy or a consulate of a third country accredited to that country that has diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and then transmitted for authentication to the embassy or consulate of the People's Republic of China accredited to that third country, or it must be certified by a local patrioticoverseas Chinese organization."

第六十条 诉讼代理人的权限如果变更或者解除，当事人应当书面告知人民法院，并由人民法院通知对方当事人。

"Article 60 A party to an action shall inform the people's court in writing if he changes or revokes the powers of an agent ad litem, and the court shall notify the other party of the change or revocation."