A traditional derivative action has purposes: compensation, deterrence and soundness. The suit is derivative in the sense that the stockholder initiates the suit on behalf of the corporation to assert legal rights and to deter possible wrongdoing of directors and supervisors. A shareholder can only bring a derivative action in cases in which the corporation has itself failed or refused to take action. Therefore, courts consider the corporation the real plaintiff in derivative suits, and the corporation receives any recovery, not the shareholder. Following the development of corporate groups, the double derivative action is probably the most common and well-settled example of pass-through shareholder rights. In a double derivative action, shareholders of a parent corporation may sue on behalf of a subsidiary of the parent, despite their lack of direct ownership in the subsidiary. In United States, academic scholars and courts have discussed the validity of the double derivative actions almost over one hundred years. Some courts that have rejected double derivative actions because the plaintiffs did not meet contemporaneous ownership requirements. However, most courts have articulated varied theories to justify double derivative actions.First, this paper will briefly compare the differences of derivative action and double derivative action. Next, this paper will discuss the main function of double derivative action. Part Ⅲ of this paper analyzes the fundamental requirements for the shareholders of parent company to bring a double derivative action in United States. Part Ⅳ will clarify the theoretical bases for permitting or denying a double derivative action, and examine the advantages and disadvantages of double derivative actions. Part Ⅴ then critiques the most significant controversies surrounding double derivative actions, from the views both of substantive law and procedural law. Finally, this paper suggests that policymakers should introduce double derivative actions bases for the fiduciary theory and the rational for improving governance of affiliated companies.