Which of the following best explains how petitioning the government can lead to political reform? Petitions are used to overthrow the government. Petitions are illegal and do not influence government decisions Petitions are primarily used for local elections, not for policy changes Citizens use petitions to express their opinions and force lawmakers to pass new laws or amend existing ones

Citizens use petitions to express their opinions and force lawmakers to pass new laws or amend existing ones.<br /><br />Petitions demonstrate public support for a particular cause or desired change. A large number of signatures on a petition can pressure elected officials to take action, as it shows a significant portion of the population wants the reform. This pressure can lead to the introduction and passage of new legislation or amendments to existing laws.<br />