1. Freedom of Assembly and Petition
Chapter 19
Freedom of
Assembly and Petition

2. Assembly: What does it mean?
1. Groups of people meet peacefully whenever they want
2. People can hold public or private meetings
3. They can organize and work together for a cause

3. Petition – What does it mean?
1. People can ask the government in writing to take
some action
2. People can sign a petition
3. Needs a certain number of signatures

4. Why is Assembly important?
1. People should be able to tell others their ideas and
opinions
2. People can make plans together and solve problems
3. People can organize into large groups
4. “There is power in numbers” – “group voice”

5. Why is Petition important?
1. Allows people to propose changes to current
situations in government
2. Power in numbers is always important
3. It upholds the right to free speech and press

6. Protections and Limits to Assembly
1. Meetings can’t have an illegal purpose
2. Picket lines are protected – as long as they are
peaceful
3. People can meet in public places with a purpose
4. Meetings can’t be violent
5. Can’t block traffic or keep people from going into
places
6. Must follow fire safety rules
7. The government must protect those who march from
harm or persecution
8. The assembly may not be violent or threaten others
in any way
9. The government can set fees for people who want to hold
meetings or marches on public land

8. Protections and Limits to Petition
1. Official petitions: initiative, referendum and recall
These have legal power
2. Unofficial: People can sign the petition, but the
government has to be the one who takes actions to fix or change the situation
3. Protected by the Constitution and by “case law” from
the Supreme Court
4. You have the right to go to public places to ask
people to sign petitions
5. People can only sign petitions once
6. People can not have a criminal record to sign one!