ONLINE PETITION PROGRAMS
Change.org is an online platform that enables people to create and sign petitions, mobilising public support to influence governments, organisations, and corporations.
An international activist network focusing on global issues like climate change and human rights.
Provides tools for users to create grassroots campaigns, including petitions and fundraising efforts.
A progressive advocacy group in the USA that offers petition tools as part of its broader campaign strategies.
Petitioning in the USA
Historical Context
Petitioning played a major role in early American political life, including campaigns to abolish slavery. In the 19th century, petitions were routinely submitted to Congress, read into the record, and referred to committees.
Citizen Petitions and Direct Action in the United States
The US Constitution protects the right to petition the government, but there is no single national system that guarantees a response. Instead, several decentralised mechanisms allow citizens to influence law and policy directly:
- State ballot initiatives and referendums. (Link). In many states, citizens can collect signatures to place proposed laws or constitutional amendments on the ballot. If approved by voters, these measures become law without legislative approval.
- Agency petitions. (Link). (Any person can petition a federal agency (such as the EPA or FCC) to create, amend, or repeal regulations. Agencies are legally required to respond, and their decisions can be challenged in court.
- Recalls. (Link). In some states, voters can petition to remove elected officials before their term ends. A successful petition triggers a special election.
These tools make the US system highly decentralised: petitions have no guaranteed federal impact, but at state and agency levels they can directly shape outcomes.
Alternative Avenues
Third-party platforms (e.g., Change.org – see above) remain popular, though these carry no formal obligation for government response. New initiatives such as MAHA and DOGE have been added by the Trump administration.
Petitioning in the UK
Historical Context
As early as the 13th century, subjects petitioned the monarch for redress of grievances. By the 17th century, the right to petition Parliament was affirmed—most notably in 1669, when the House of Commons declared it an inherent right of every commoner in England to prepare and present petitions in case of grievance. The 18th and 19th centuries saw widespread political mobilisation through petitions, such as those advocating the abolition of slavery or electoral reform.
Modern Petitions System
Since 2015, the UK Parliament has hosted an official e-petitions platform: petition.parliament.uk. It allows UK residents and citizens to create and sign petitions online. The process is managed by the Petitions Committee, composed of MPs, who determine the official response or whether to recommend the petition for debate.
Procedure and Thresholds
- Creation: Petitions must be clear, relevant to government or parliament.
- Publication: Once approved, the petition is live for six months.
- 10,000 Signatures: Government must issue a formal written response.
- 100,000 Signatures: The petition is considered for debate in Parliament.
- Petitions can be on local or national issues.
Reaching the thresholds does not guarantee legislative change, but it ensures formal recognition and the possibility of further scrutiny.
Effectiveness and Impact
The influence of petitions varies. Their primary value lies in visibility and transparency, acting as a pressure point. Usually action is only taken if the petition is easy for government. For e.g., (true story) it created debates on the puppy market and a change of legislation on this. Lots of petitions are pointless / misdirected. E.g. largest current petition is a request for a general election – something the government obviously aren’t going to do.