Malcolm Rivera
In the United States, politicians take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution. This includes the President, Vice President, federal employees, members of Congress, and state legislators. The oath is a feature of government that has existed for centuries and is often administered during an inauguration or swearing-in ceremony. While the specific wording of the oath may vary, it typically includes a promise to support, preserve, and defend the Constitution, as well as a pledge of allegiance and loyalty to it. The inclusion of So help me God is optional and may be omitted in affirmations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who takes the oath? | Federal employees, Representatives, Senators, judges, political appointees, the President, and Vice President of the United States |
| What is the oath? | "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God." |
| When is the oath taken? | At the start of each new Congress, in January of every odd-numbered year, the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate takes an oath of office. |
| Where is the oath taken? | The House Floor on the opening day of a new Congress. |
| Is there a religious element? | No, there is no religious test required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the United States. |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution requires politicians to take an oath to support the Constitution
- The oath is taken by the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives
- The oath has been a feature of government for centuries, dating back to colonial times
- The specific wording of the oath is not prescribed by the Constitution and has evolved over time
- Federal employees who do not take the oath or swear falsely can be prosecuted for perjury and denied federal employment
The US Constitution requires politicians to take an oath to support the Constitution
The United States Constitution requires politicians to take an oath to support the Constitution. This is known as the Oath of Office, and it is a feature of government that has been in place for centuries. When the United States were colonies of Great Britain, officials swore allegiance to the king. After the US gained independence, the founders debated whether an oath was necessary in a free country and, if so, what form it should take.
Article VI of the US Constitution states that "The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution". This means that members of Congress, senators, representatives, and state and federal officers must take an oath to support the Constitution. The Constitution does not prescribe the exact wording of the oath, but it typically includes a promise to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic".
The Oath of Office is usually taken during a swearing-in ceremony at the start of a new term or Congress. The President and Vice President are inaugurated in the same ceremony, with the Vice President taking their oath first. Senators and Representatives also take the oath in a group swearing-in ceremony on the House floor on the opening day of a new Congress. This oath-taking practice dates back to the First Congress in 1789, but the current oath is a product of the 1860s, drafted during the Civil War.
The Oath of Office is a solemn commitment to uphold the Constitution and serve the people. It is a reminder that public servants are just that—servants of the people. By taking the oath, politicians and government officials affirm their allegiance to the nation and their responsibility to faithfully execute their duties.
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The oath is taken by the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives
In the United States, the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives all take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution. The oath is a feature of government that has existed for centuries. When the United States were colonies of Great Britain, officials swore allegiance to the king.
The oath for the President of the United States is specified in the Constitution (Article II, section 1, clause 8). The current oath reads:
> "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
The Vice President takes a similar oath, administered by the retiring Vice President, a member of Congress, or another government official:
> "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same: that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
Senators and Representatives take the following oath:
> "I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
The oath for Senators and Representatives has been in place since 1966 and is prescribed in Title 5, Section 3331 of the United States Code.
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The oath has been a feature of government for centuries, dating back to colonial times
Oaths of office and allegiance have been a feature of government for centuries, dating back to colonial times. When the United States were colonies of Great Britain, officials swore allegiance to the king. Colonial and state legislatures also created oaths that required members to swear allegiance to the state and often to profess a belief in God as well.
During the First Congress in 1789, an oath was adopted: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States." This was a simple oath, and the current oath is a product of the 1860s, drafted during the Civil War. At the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, a time of uncertain and shifting loyalties, President Abraham Lincoln ordered all federal civilian employees within the executive branch to take an expanded oath. This was known as the "Ironclad Test Oath." The Test Oath required civilian and military officials to swear or affirm that they had never aided or encouraged “persons engaged in armed hostility” against the United States.
Following the Civil War, Congress permitted some former Confederates to take only the second section of the 1862 oath. An 1868 statute prescribed this alternative oath for "any person who has participated in the late rebellion, and from whom all legal disabilities arising therefrom have been removed by act of Congress." This statute caused some controversy, as Northerners complained of the law's unfair double standard. Loyal Unionists were required to take the Test Oath's harsh first section, while former Confederates were permitted to ignore it. In 1884, after more than a decade of complaints, a new generation of lawmakers repealed the first section of the Test Oath, leaving intact today's affirmation of constitutional allegiance.
Today, Members of the House take an oath to uphold the Constitution in a group swearing-in on the House Floor on the opening day of a new Congress. They often pose for ceremonial photos individually with the Speaker following the official swearing-in.
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The specific wording of the oath is not prescribed by the Constitution and has evolved over time
The United States Constitution, Article VI, Clause 3, states:
> The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
> I, A.B., do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States.
This oath was used for all federal officials except the President, whose oath was prescribed specifically in the Constitution (Article II, Section 1, Clause 8).
During the Civil War, Congress mandated that the oath bar anyone from office who had been disloyal to the Union. This led to the creation of the "Ironclad Test Oath" in 1862, which required civilian and military officials to swear or affirm that they had never aided or encouraged "persons engaged in armed hostility" against the United States.
In 1868, 1871, and 1884, revisions were made to the oath, removing the elements of the "iron-clad" oath. The current oath, which has been in use since 1966, is prescribed in Title 5, Section 3331 of the United States Code:
> I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
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Federal employees who do not take the oath or swear falsely can be prosecuted for perjury and denied federal employment
In the United States, federal employees, representatives, senators, judges, political appointees, the president, and vice president are all required to take an oath of office. The oath is a pledge of allegiance to the Constitution and a promise to execute one's duties faithfully. The text of the oath is as follows:
> "I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
The oath has been a feature of the US government for centuries. When the United States were colonies of Great Britain, officials swore allegiance to the king. During the Civil War, Congress mandated that the oath bar anyone who had been disloyal to the Union from holding office. The modern version of the oath has been in use since 1966.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, all politicians in the US take an oath to the constitution. This includes the President, Vice President, federal employees, Representatives, Senators, judges, and political appointees.
An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before assuming the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body. The oath is often administered at an inauguration or other ceremonies connected with taking up the office.
The current oath for Members of the House of Representatives is: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."
The First Congress adopted a simple oath in 1789: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States." The oath was revised during the Civil War, and again in 1868, 1871, and 1884. The current version has been in use since 1966.
Yes, politicians in other countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, and Bangladesh also take an oath to their respective constitutions.
