1. South Carolina’s 1st & 2nd
Constitutions

2. South Carolina’s First Constitution
• Adopted before the Declaration
of Independence was signed
• Written by the Provincial
Congress
• Was meant to be temporary…to
last only until things with Great
Britain were resolved.

3. Government of the First Constitution
• Two house (bicameral) legislature
–Lower house: elected by the people
–Upper house: elected by the lower house
• President of the colony/state
–Elected by the legislature
–Had the right to veto laws
• The Lowcountry had a greater percentage
of representation than the Upcountry.

4. South Carolina’s Second Constitution
• Written after the Declaration of Independence was
signed
• Changes:
– The “president” was now called the governor
– Representation was made more equal
– The Church of England was no longer the official, state-
supported church of South Carolina