五月花号公约
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《五月花号公约》(英语:Mayflower Compact)是前往北美洲新英格兰殖民地的102名英国清教徒在上岸之前,其中的41名成年男子于1620年11月11日在五月花号上签订的政治声明,同意创建并服从一个政府。
《五月花号公约》创建了一个先例,即政府是基于被管理者的同意而成立的,而且将以法治国。这也是创立美国的主要思想之一,即在同一个社会里的所有公民自由结合的权利,并可以通过制定对大家都有利的法律来管理自己。
“ | ……我们在上帝面前共同立誓签约,自愿结为一民众自治团体。为了使上述目的能得到更好地实施、维护和发展,将来不时依此而制定颁布的被认为是对这个殖民地全体人民都最适合、最方便的法律、法规、条令、宪章和公职,我们都保证遵守和服从。 | ” |
——五月花号公约,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]