How to write a Petition

Most of us, at one point or another, have been frustrated or angry to point of wanting to take action. This is especially true in cases where the situation is unfair and unbalanced in the impact it has on certain groups of people. Generally, these situations whether they be public policy, local restrictions or a matter of state or federal law are generally thought to be a done deal and not changeable; at least not by just an ordinary individual. True, many people do adopt the you can't fight city hall' position, but other individuals and groups, now and in the past have chosen to take action. A very effective method of expressing one's position on issues we don't agree with is to write a petition.

A petition is a request made to an authority, usually a government official or public governmental body. Generally, a petition is a document addressed to some public official and signed by many individuals. You many be surprised to learn that a petition may be oral rather or written. Currently, petitions are routinely transmitted via the Internet. The term petition' has a specific meaning in the legal profession as a request, directed to a court or administrative committee, seeking some sort of relief such as a court order.

The petition itself is made up of a statement of your position and a collection of signatures for persons who support your position or campaign. Depending on the nature of your protest or request for change or amendment you may need to meet a specific requirement in terms of the number of signatures required. This is especially true in matter related to political campaigns and other politically charged situations.

Whatever the reason you choose to start a petition, and whether it is done in person or online there are some generally accepted guidelines that should be followed. Following these guidelines will greatly increase your chances for a successful petition process.

Guidelines For Writing A Successful Petition:

1) Use a header to explain the reason for the petition

2) Be able explain the background of the situation in one or two concise sentences.

3) State precisely what you want to done and how the action is to be carried out

4) Indicate where and to whom you are going to send the petition

5) Collect the name, address and signature of people who agree with you.

6) Number the forms and number each line of the form so that you can easily tell how many signatures you have collected.

7) Recruit volunteers to get signatures for the petition

8) Plan your strategy to ensure your petitions is seen by as many people as possible