A more thorough explanation:

An act of petition is a legal process where litigants provide brief statements supported by an affidavit. This procedure was commonly used in the English High Court of Admiralty.

John and Jane are in a legal dispute over a property. They both submit a brief statement outlining their claims and supporting evidence in the form of an affidavit. The judge will then review the statements and evidence before making a decision.

This example illustrates how an act of petition works. The litigants provide a summary of their case and supporting evidence, which is then reviewed by a judge. This process allows for a quick and efficient resolution of legal disputes.