THE RIGHT TO PETITION

“Congress shall make no law … abridging … the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

PETITION

An action in the court. The Supreme Court has said lawsuits are petitions (Borough of Duryea v. Guarnieri, 2011).

REDRESS

To be made whole: the harm repaired, what was taken restored.

GRIEVANCE

When the government hurts you: a wrong done to you by those who are supposed to serve you.

HOW THE PEOPLE LOST THEIR REMEDY

1791

The First Amendment. The people keep the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

1793

Chisholm v. Georgia. The Supreme Court agreed: a citizen could take a state to federal court. The people, not the government, are sovereign.

1795

The 11th Amendment. Afraid of going bankrupt over their war debts, the states ratified an amendment to shut that courthouse door.

1871

Bradley v. Fisher. The courts gave themselves immunity: “Judges of courts of record of superior or general jurisdiction are not liable to civil actions for their judicial acts, even when such acts are in excess of their jurisdiction, and are alleged to have been done maliciously or corruptly.” (80 U.S. 335, 336) It drew on English common law and the crown’s old maxim: “The king can do no wrong.”

HOW IT WAS BUILT

The government serves the people

THE ROLE REVERSAL

The people serve the government

Our position: the 11th Amendment runs contrary to the First Amendment’s promise of redress, and the Ninth Amendment says the listing of certain rights “shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

HEAR “RIGHT TO PETITION” ON THE NEW ALBUM

Court House · Nov 22, 2026 · ignisinitium.com