Tipsheet

Planning A Revolution In South Carolina? Let The Government Know First, Please.

It's called the "Subversive Activities Registration Act," and it's found in the South Carolina state code. It holds that:

Every subversive organization and organization subject to foreign control shall register with the Secretary of State on forms prescribed by him within thirty days after coming into existence in this State. 

What is a subversive organization, you ask?

(1) "Subversive organization" means every corporation, society, association, camp, group, bund, political party, assembly, body or organization, composed of two or more persons, which directly or indirectly advocates, advises, teaches or practices the duty, necessity or propriety of controlling, conducting, seizing or overthrowing the government of the United States, of this State or of any political subdivision thereof by force or violence or other unlawful means;

(2) "Organization subject to foreign control" means every corporation, society, association, camp, group, bund, political party, assembly, body or other organization, composed of two or more persons, which comes within either of the following:

(a) it solicits or accepts financial contributions, loans or support of any kind directly or indirectly from, or is affiliated directly or indirectly with, a foreign government or a political subdivision thereof, an agent, agency or instrumentality of a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, a political party in a foreign country or an international political organization...

I understand that terrorists need to be able to be charged on something; this code would provide an easy law to prosecute an al-Qaeda fringe group that hasn't (yet) committed any crime.

But there's the outstanding, nonsensical, and debilitating issue of actual effectiveness. If you're interested in committing subversive activities against the government, the last thing you'll be inclined to do is ring up Uncle Sam.