The Constitutional Approach

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is well known to most people. They can tell you it deals with religious freedom, freedom of the press, and free speech. However, there is a forgotten or much ignored clause that is perhaps the most important part in these times.

The final clause of the First Amendment states, "or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

I believe the "right to petition the Government" or "Petition of Right" is the Constitutionally supplied and mandated solution to our situation. The Founding Fathers knew the importance of this clause very well. In fact they used it prior to the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration itself is in fact a Petition of Right.

The Petition of Right merely is a statement asserting the rights that already exist. It does not ask for new or additional rights. The British Parliament sent a Petition of Right to King Charles I in 1628 to assert their rights which where being violated by the Crown.

Since this Petition of Right is considered second only to the Magna Carta in England, the colonist as British Citizens would have been well aware of it. I am sure this was the reason for the petition dated October 26, 1774 from the Continental Congress to the King asking for his help with solutions.

The petition, which outlined a peaceful redress of grievances, was summarily rejected by the British government. They sent a second letter called the "Olive Branch Petition" to the King on July 8, 1775. It was rejected outright. In taking these steps the Founding Father gave us a precedent to follow in the future. They then included it in the First Amendment to give future generations a peaceable means or solution to Governmental encroachments.

Now is the time for us to follow this historic and reasoned example to reclaim our rights under the Constitution and restore State Sovereignty. That is what Project Resolve is. It is an attempt to the governments of at least 33 States to unite in sending a "Petition of Right " redressing our grievances to the federal government. This petition will demand the immediately return to the Constitution and restore the rights of the people and return State Sovereignty.

Join me in Project Resolve.