When has a petition ever worked?

Asked by: Alvah Cassin  |  Last update: January 21, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (22 votes)

The international record for most successful online petition is currently held by the Change.org petition relating to the murder of George Floyd.

Do petitions ever work?

Yes, Petitions Are Effective

Online petitions wield substantial influence by raising awareness, gathering public support, and pressuring decision-makers. Sharing petitions on social media and other platforms informs a wider audience, sparking conversations and understanding around critical issues.

What is an example of a petition in history?

Petition for Universal Suffrage (1865) In 1865, using strategies they had honed in the fight for the abolition of slavery, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and others organized a petition campaign, collecting signatures to send to members of Congress in support of suffrage for women.

Has there ever been a successful Change.org petition?

“From huge national victories – like securing air conditioning for UPS truck drivers, to smaller wins that made a big impact – like making Lunar New Year an official holiday in New York public schools, we continue to be inspired by the power of Change.org users – both online and off.”

How often are petitions successful?

The analysis shows that the vast majority of petitions do not achieve any measure of success; over 99 percent fail to get the 10,000 signatures required for an official response and only 0.1 percent attain the 100,000 required for a parliamentary debate (0.7 percent in the US).

Petition For Removal of EC Officials: Examining the cause of action | PM Express (27-1-25)

28 related questions found

How effective are petition letters?

Yes, petitions can be effective

Raising awareness and signaling public opinion to decision-makers, influencing their decisions; Showing the media that there is a story worth covering; Helping organizations gain supporters and identify people who may want to get more involved on an issue; and.

Have online petitions ever done anything?

The international record for most successful online petition is currently held by the Change.org petition relating to the murder of George Floyd.

Does signing a petition on Change.org do anything?

When you sign a petition, especially on Change.org, the impact is two-fold. Immediately, your signature adds weight to the cause, raising pressure on decision-makers to act. Long-term, your signature is part of a community of advocates that can sway public opinion and affect change.

How much does a Change.org petition cost?

People and organizations around the world start petitions for free. Sharing the petition with friends, family, and other supporters builds momentum. Media coverage and offline events bring the petition to new audiences.

What is a successful petition?

A well-written petition should communicate the urgency of the problem and the need for action. We recommend keeping your petition between one and three paragraphs in length. 3. Collect signatures.

Did the Olive Branch Petition work?

In August 1775, the colonies were formally declared to be in rebellion by the Proclamation of Rebellion, and the petition was rejected by the British government; King George had refused to read it before declaring the colonists traitors.

What is a good sentence for petition?

Examples of petition in a Sentence

She filed a petition for divorce. We ask you to hear our petition. Verb The organization petitioned the government to investigate the issue. All people had the right to petition the king for help.

Are petitions legally binding?

Because “initiative petitions” are legally binding and rules vary by state, anyone seeking to launch an initiative petition should talk to an expert in your area.

What is an example of a petition?

Sample Petition using a Personal Story

We, the undersigned, kindly request that [Name of Public Institution/Organization] take immediate action to improve accessibility for people with disabilities within our community.

Can petitions change laws?

Government Code Section 11340.6 provides that any interested person may petition a state agency to request the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulation, except where: The right to petition for adoption of a regulation is restricted by statute to a designated group, or.

Why are petitions effective?

Petitions are a great way to show support for your efforts, get the attention of the community and of decision makers, and bring about change. Petitions demonstrate group strength. Officials may ignore you, but the more names you have on your petition, the harder it will be to ignore your petition.

Is signing a petition a right or responsibility?

The right to petition is protected by the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. Although often overlooked in favor of other more famous freedoms, and sometimes taken for granted, many other civil liberties are enforceable against the government only by exercising this basic right.

Which petition has the most signatures?

Notable petitions. As of March 2019 the petition with the most signatures, with 6.1 million signatories, is a petition requesting the revocation of Article 50 and for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union.

Has a Change.org petition ever been successful?

Five years and 1.3 million signatures later, Theresa's petition to get A/C in UPS delivery trucks won. The Teamsters officially ratified a contract with historic heat protections. Theresa's petition is now one of the biggest victories in Change.org's history.

What was the biggest petition ever?

Justice for George Floyd

Later that same summer, a petition started by a 15 year-old girl demanding justice for George Floyd and his family reached more than 19 million signatures. According to the Change.org website, it became the biggest petition and movement in history.

How do I make a legit petition?

How-to create a petition:
  1. Choose a target. An effective target is a person who has the power to give you what you want. ...
  2. Write the message. Keep this short and sweet. ...
  3. Make a Specific Ask. Ask your target to take a concrete action. ...
  4. Create space for people to sign and fill their information.

Does signing online petitions do anything?

Have you ever pondered the real impact of your digital signature on an online petition? You're not alone in this curiosity. It's only natural to question if online petitions are effective at creating change. The truth is, they do.

How effective are letters of intent?

LOIs are useful when two parties are initially brought together to determine the broad strokes of a deal before they resolve its finer points. Terms included in an LOI are certain stipulations, requirements, timelines, and the parties involved.

How many signatures should a petition have?

After you publish your petition, it's time to start promoting! You have 30 days to gather the 100,000 signatures required for a response, so it's good to hit the ground running.