See Also: petition(1)(dictionary)
petition(2)(dictionary)
Petition of Right(encyclopedia)
petition(encyclopedia)
PETITION(law)
PETITION OF RIGHT, Eng(law)
PETITION FOR PROBATE(law)
petition 2, verb(dictionary)
petition 1, noun(dictionary)
Petition In Bankruptcy(law)

petition (sh)




Written instrument directed to an individual, government official, legislative body, or court in order to seek redress of grievances or to request a favour.

In some jurisdictions, petitions brought by a sufficient number of people (represented by their signatures) are used to place a candidate on a ballot, to submit an issue to the electorate (see referendum and initiative), or to exert pressure on legislators to vote in a certain way. In the U.S., the right to petition is guaranteed by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.