What system of governance did the Mayflower Compact introduce?

• A. Monarchy
• B. Democracy
• C. Self-governance
• D. Theocracy

Answer: (C)

The Mayflower Compact establishes self-governance by having the settlers form a civil body politic and agree to create and follow laws they themselves choose for the good of the community. This is essentially a social contract: authority comes from the people who consent to be governed, and rules are made and enforced by the group rather than imposed by a monarch or external church authority.

It’s not a monarchy because there’s no king imposing authority. It’s not a theocracy because the governing structure is based on an agreed civil framework, even though religious motives helped bring them together. It’s also not a modern democracy in all its details, but the key idea is self-rule through collective decision-making and consent of the governed.