Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Texas

Re: First Amendment: Right to Petition

I think you are reading the word "petition" too narrowly. While a "petition" -- as a noun -- is often thought of as a document containing signatures in support of a specified goal, in verb form the word means simplu "to request." Such a request can take any form, and need not be the kind of petition described above. The First Amendment uses the word petition as a verb, granting the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.

For an example of the official use of the verb form, in certain kinds of court cases the party seeking relief is called a "petitioner" rather than a "plaintiff." This doesn't mean that he or she gathered signatures to present to the court, but rather that he or she is making a request of the court. I have filed many court documents on behalf of petitioners, and have not once gathered signatured in support of a client's position.

Citizens can petition the government in a number of ways, such as writing letters to government officials, speaking at public hearings, or hiring professional lobbyists. I rarely hear of an agency or individual in government who is unwilling to at least hear the concerns raised by interested citizens (though, of course, such high-ranking officials as the President cannot personally make time to hear everyone who wants to be heard), so I can't agree with you that the right has been unused or lost.