First Amendment: Assembly and Petition Clauses

Introduction

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

• The freedom of assembly protects our right to gather together with others in groups—whether as part of a political meeting, religious gathering, street protest, or parade.
• The right to petition goes to our right to join together with others to share our collective views with the government—often by highlighting problems and suggesting ways of fixing them.