Executive branch
Governor-led statewide administration and executive leadership.
Governor:Henry McMaster (Republican)
South Carolina
South Carolina entered the Union on May 23, 1788 as the 8th state. South Carolina’s political story stretches from the colonial lowcountry and plantation economy through secession, Reconstruction, civil-rights struggle, and rapid modern growth in manufacturing and tourism. Today its state government is centered in Columbia and operates through a governor and a bicameral General Assembly made up of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Median household income$67,804
Poverty rate13.9%
Median age40.5
GovernorHenry McMaster (Republican)
Next statewide electionNovember 3, 2026
Government & Representation
Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.
South Carolina’s government is organized around an elected governor and a bicameral General Assembly that includes a Senate and a House of Representatives. Columbia serves as the focal point of statewide lawmaking, budgeting, and public administration.
Legislative branch
How the state writes laws, structures chambers, and organizes representation.
Legislature:South Carolina General Assembly
Chambers:Senate and House of Representatives
Structure:Bicameral
- Legislature websiteOfficial legislature homepage, chambers, calendars, and member information.
- Legislative searchFind districts, legislators, bills, or legislative activity.
- South Carolina State Senate This link opens in a new window
Constitution, courts, and legal framework
Key legal reference points for understanding state authority.
- State constitutionRead the governing charter that defines state institutions, powers, and limits.
U.S. Senators
Each state elects two U.S. senators to represent it in the Senate.
U.S. House delegation
House seats are apportioned by population and organized by congressional district, except for at-large delegations where applicable.
Find Your Representatives
Use one address to identify the people who represent you in South Carolina at the federal and state level.
Official legislature tools
Find my legislator
State legislature website
Elections & Voting
Use the tools below for official rules, deadlines, registration, ballot access, and upcoming statewide elections.
Search by voter address
Enter an address in South Carolina to check polling places, ballot details, election officials, and any address-based voter tools Google Civic provides.
Statewide voting links
Statewide voting links
Voting basics
- Check registration
Confirm that your voter registration is active with your state election office.
- Register/update online
Register to vote online or update your name, address, or party information when your state allows it.
- Mail registration
Download or review the mail registration process and deadlines for this state.
- In-person registration
Find out whether you can register in person before Election Day or at your polling place.
- Military/overseas voting
Access voting guidance for military members, their families, and citizens living overseas.
- Polling place finder
Look up where to vote in person and review any location details provided by the state.
Upcoming elections
Upcoming statewide elections from Google Civic appear here when they are available.
Upcoming Elections in SC
No upcoming elections for SC are available in Google Civic right now.