Mayflower Compact Day, the official text

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A68, R96, H4267)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 53-3-320 SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF NOVEMBER AS "MAYFLOWER COMPACT DAY."

Whereas, the Mayflower Compact was the first written document providing for self-government in what would later become the United States of America. It laid the foundations for the Declaration of Independence, which stated that governments derive their powers "from the consent of the governed," and the US Constitution; and

Whereas, the Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the men aboard the Mayflower, consisting of separatists, merchant adventurers, and tradesmen; and

Whereas, due to storms, the Mayflower crew and passengers found themselves far from the Colony of Virginia, where they had permission to start a new colony; and

Whereas, since they were not in Virginia, the laws and governance of Virginia no longer applied to their new colony. Therefore, the passengers decided they needed to work together to define how they would govern themselves; and

Whereas, of one hundred one Mayflower passengers, forty-one signed the Compact while anchored in Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts. Many of the others were too sick to join the discussion and signing of the Compact; and

Whereas, the Mayflower Compact of 1620 laid the foundation of liberty based on law and order. The Mayflower passengers drew up a form of government that has been designated as the first real constitution of modern times. It was democratic, an acknowledgment of liberty under law and order and the giving to each person the right to participate in the government, and each of its signees promised to be obedient to laws enacted under its authority; and

Whereas, the Mayflower Compact reads as follows:

"IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620." Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Mayflower Compact Day

SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 53 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 53-3-320. The twenty-first day of November of each year is designated as "Mayflower Compact Day" in South Carolina.

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 20th day of May, 2025.

Approved the 22nd day of May, 2025.

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