The last right enshrined in the First Amendment is perhaps the least known and the most ignored: the right to petition the government for the redress of grievances. The simple act of petitioning evolved from a royal court privilege to a primary function of the U.S. Congress.In this final episode of the first season of Amended! digs into the history, struggles, and the surprisingly old power of petitions in shaping monarchies and American democracy — with a few sci-fi jokes thrown in for good measure.You'll hear about the origins of petitioning, from Magna Carta to the American Revolution. You'll discover that, in colonial America and the early years of our nation, petitions were powerful, direct, and surprisingly inclusive, a tool that was available even for Native Americans and enslaved people.You'll also find out how slavery led to rules that changed the nature of petitioning, and how, as the country grew, the sheer volume of of petitions ultimately led to the vast federal bureaucracy.And as a bonus, learn how a simple Star Wars joke kickstarted a NASA project (Spot the Station). Just goes to show, even geeky petitions can make a big impact.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.