Government - The power and dominion of the conscience are the province of God [who] alone can properly instruct and govern it.   No one whatsoever may lawfully force the conscience of others regardless of the authority or office he [or she] bears in the government of this world.  - Robert Barclay, Apology (1676)

    American government, endorsing the principles of equality, freedom, and justice, emerged from an intellectual and political climate influenced significantly by Friends.   Today, though governmental policies and decisions often pose difficult problems for Friends, we affirm our corporate and individual commitment to influence governmental actions through thoughtful witness or considered resistance.
    Conscientious Friends take this commitment in various directions: some work within government, some work to influence public officials or actions, some withdraw from participation, some resist or oppose government claims.
Recognizing that the exercise of authority intensifies the spiritual struggle for those who work within government, we seek unity in the Truth  with those we want to influence and believe this unity may be reached if we remain faithful in our witness.  As human beings, all of us sometimes find compromise expedient , even necessary; but the decisions of government officials affect far more lives that their own.  We therefore seek to encourage and call them to the standard of Truth in their actions.
    Friends often are led to withhold their assent from harmful governmental policies and to work to change them through individual action, meeting action, and support for the Friends Committee on National Legislation.  Many Friends communicate frequently with governmental representatives to encourage their support for positive legislation, and many work to elect candidates who hold positions acceptable to Friends.
    As a body, the Religious Society of Friends has never recognized the claims of government as absolutes, for we seek to live the truth beyond human institutions.   Friends traditionally have refrained from swearing oaths - instead, we affirm the truth.   We  encourage mediation and negotiation rather than litigation to resolve disputes.   Friends have supported conscientious objection to the military service.   Individual Friends have felt it right, under the leadings of the Spirit, to develop these positions and have challenged the corporate body of Friends to consider new testimonies,  such as resisting war taxation and noncooperation with certain governmental policies.   In such cases, Friends' steadfast and faithful witness has an influence that often transcends its initial effect.
    While we work to see our principles reflected in governmental decisions and actions, we realize that government even at its best can only provide a framework to foster justice, peace, and respect for human differences.   These ideals become reality only when individuals, under the conviction of love, daily live the life of the peaceable kingdom.