What action were the signers of the Mayflower Compact taking?

The signers of the Mayflower Compact were establishing a framework for self-governance among the Pilgrims who settled in Plymouth Colony in 1620. By signing the Compact, they agreed to form a civil body politic to create and enforce laws for the good of the colony, thereby ensuring order and cooperation in their new settlement. This was significant as it represented one of the earliest forms of democratic governance in America.