The Great Seal of the
State of Mississippi was adopted in 2014, replacing a previous version that had been used since the 19th century.
Design
The eagle is positioned in the center of the seal, with its wings spread wide and its head held high. Stars and stripes adorn its chest. In its talons, the eagle grasps an olive branch symbolizing a desire for peace and a quiver of arrows representing the power to wage war. The outer circle of the seal contains the text "The Great Seal of the State of Mississippi" at the top and the words "
In God We Trust" at the bottom.
[ The ]governor of Mississippi
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
is tasked by the constitution with safeguarding the seal.
History
The first Mississippian governmental seal was adopted on January 19, 1798,[ when it was organized under the name of the Mississippi Territory.
After it became a state in 1817, the same seal was designated as the state's seal the following year. In July 2014, Mississippi adopted a new seal, which is still in use today.][
On January 31, 2014, purportedly to defend ]religious freedom
Freedom of religion or religious liberty is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance. It also includes the freedom ...
, Mississippi's state senate voted to add the words, "In God We Trust" to the state seal and the change was unilaterally made effective on July 1, 2014.
See also
*List of Mississippi state symbols
The following is a list of state symbols of the U.S. state of Mississippi, as defined by state statutes in Title 1, Section 3 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 and listed in the ''Mississippi Official & Statistical Register''.
Insignia
Flora
F ...
* Coat of arms of Mississippi
*Flag of Mississippi
The flag of Mississippi, also known as the Mississippi flag, consists of a white magnolia blossom surrounded by 21 white stars and the words 'In God We Trust' written below, all put over a blue Canadian pale with two vertical gold borders on a ...
References
External links
*
{{Mississippi
Symbols of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
Coats of arms with eagles
Coats of arms with stars
Coats of arms with arrows
Coats of arms with olive branches
Religion in the United States
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