五月花號公約
普利茅斯殖民地的第一份文件 / 維基百科,自由的 encyclopedia
《五月花號公約》(英語:Mayflower Compact)是前往北美洲新英格蘭殖民地的102名英國分離主義者(又稱天路客)在上岸之前,其中的41名成年男子於1620年11月11日在五月花號上簽訂的政治聲明,同意創建並服從一個政府。
《五月花號公約》創建了一個先例,即政府是基於被管理者的同意而成立的,而且將以法治國。這也是創立美國的主要思想之一,即在同一個社會裡的所有公民自由結合的權利,並可以通過制定對大家都有利的法律來管理自己。
“ | ……我們在上帝面前共同立誓簽約,自願結為一民眾自治團體。為了使上述目的能得到更好地實施、維護和發展,將來不時依此而制定頒布的被認為是對這個殖民地全體人民都最適合、最方便的法律、法規、條令、憲章和公職,我們都保證遵守和服從。 | ” |
——五月花號公約,1620年11月11日 |
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 Officers, 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.[1]