When you feel very deeply about a cause, a petition is one way in which you can show those in authority that you are not the only one that feels this way. Through the signatures on the petition, you can show that others do support you.
Starting a petition is not a difficult process, but it is one for which you do need to have a valid reason. You not only have to identify the issue of the petition, but you also need to know the best person to whom you can address the petition.
Depending on the issue you want to address, some of the recipients of your position could be:
• Government departments
• Government representatives
• Politicians - state, provincial, federal
• Political parties
• Educational institutions
• Media
• Sports organizations
• Local authorities, such as city or town councils
• Entertainment producers
Even though traditional petitions are the most widely accepted because they actually have the handwritten signature of those who support the cause, online petitions are also readily accepted.
If you intend to start an online petition, make sure you meet the requirements of the recipient for this form of petition. State governments in the US for example, have different requirements, which means you should make sure you do your homework to have all the bases covered,
Research is also essential before you start a petition. You must have your position statement outlined very clearly and include research that supports your claim. This opening statement should include all the relevant information needed by both those you ask to sign and for those to whom you are submitting the petition. A basic outline for starting a petition is:
• Describe the current situation
• Suggest changes
• Explain why these changes are needed and how the changes will make improvements
• Make sure your statements in the petition all relate to the situation
• Reread what you have written to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors
In some cases you do need to have a certain number of signatures in order for the petition to be deemed valid. You should check this before you start. You should also make a decision as to how you are going to collect the signatures you need.
You can use both a traditional petition and an online one for the same cause, in which case you will collect a larger number of signatures. It takes more time to use a traditional petition, especially if it involves a very large area. For a local petition, you may easily be able to go door to door and get the support you need.
You may need permission to circulate a petition, whether it is in the traditional petition format or online. This is true if you want to petition authorities about an injustice you feel strongly about. For example, if you feel an individual or group of people have been unfairly treated, then you do need the permission of those involved before you start the petition on their behalf.
Whatever type of petition you start, you must make sure that as many people know about it as possible. If you feel strongly about changes to a situation, you must have as many names as possible so that those in authority realize that you are not the only one in this situation.
Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in society, culture, and the proper way to start online petitions. To browse a particular petition format, please visit http://www.thepetitionsite.com/.
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