Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Simplified:
Title II – Commencing an Action; Service of Process; Pleadings, Motions, & Orders
Rule 2 – One Form of Action

Continued from Rule 1 – Scope and Purpose.

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Rule 2 Transcript:

     “There is one form of action— the civil action.” [1]

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Related Definitions:

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form of action:
(17c.)

1. The Common-law legal & procedural device associated with a particular writ, each of which had specific forms of process, pleading, trial, & judgment.  

The 11 common-law forms of action were

#1.) Trespass – wrongful entry upon another person’s real property  (land).

#2.) Replevin – to repossess a person or “personal property” (movable or intangible assets, but not “real property” such as land or buildings) wrongfully taken, detained (withheld), imprisoned, or encumbered (i.e. probation).

#3.) Detinue – recover “personal property” (movable or intangible assets, but not “real property” such as land or buildings) that has been detained either by private persons or government officials.

#4.) Ejectment – an owner or occupier who was wrongfully ejected from “real property” (land or buildings) recovers possession, damages, and costs.

#5.) Trover – recover damages for property that was wrongfully taken and then sold, given away, lost, etc.

#6.) Trespass On the Case – recover damages which occurred as a consequence for another’s action or inaction such as negligence, fraud, slander, deceit, omissions, etc.

#7.) Special Assumpsit – breach of contract.

#8.) General Assumpsit – breach of non-written promise or agreement.

#9.) Debt – liability based on breach of contract or agreement, for the purpose of claiming a fixed sum of money.

#10.) Account – violation of fiduciary relation or to recover certain fixed sum of money for business contract breach.

#11.) Covenant – to claim damages as a result of breach of contract, deed, or other covenant, to fine someone. [2]