Legal Definitions - right to petition

The right to petition is a constitutional right that is guaranteed by the First Amendment. This right allows people to make formal requests to the government, such as by lobbying or writing letters to public officials. It is also known as the right of petition or freedom of petition.

• A group of citizens writes a letter to their senator asking them to support a particular bill.
• A community organizes a protest outside of a government building to demand action on a particular issue.
• A person creates a petition on a website, asking others to sign and support a cause they believe in.

These examples illustrate the right to petition because they all involve people making formal requests to the government or other officials. Whether it's through a letter, a protest, or a petition, individuals have the right to express their opinions and advocate for change.