Isabella Carter
Members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate take an oath to uphold the Constitution at the start of each new Congress. The oath is administered by the Speaker of the House or the presiding officer of the Senate. The current oath is as follows: 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who takes the oath? | Members of the House, the entire House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate |
| When is the oath taken? | At the start of each new Congress, in January of every odd-numbered year |
| 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." |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The original oath for members of Congress was: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States
- The oath was revised during the Civil War
- The oath was expanded to bar from office anyone who had been disloyal to the Union
- The oath has changed several times since the first act of Congress
- The oath used today has not changed since 1966
The original oath for members of Congress was: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States
Members of Congress do swear an oath to protect the Constitution. The original oath, adopted in 1789, was: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States". This was revised during the Civil War, when members of Congress were concerned about traitors. The current oath is as follows: "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 oath is taken at the start of each new Congress, in January of every odd-numbered year, by the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. Members of the House take the oath in a group swearing-in on the House Floor, often posing for ceremonial photos individually with the Speaker following the official swearing-in.
Migrants' Rights: Are They Protected by the US Constitution?
You may want to see also
The oath was revised during the Civil War
Yes, members of Congress swear an oath to protect the Constitution. On the opening day of a new Congress, members of the House take an oath to uphold the Constitution in a group swearing-in on the House Floor. The current oath is as follows:
> "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."
Employer Free Speech: Union Views and Legal Boundaries
You may want to see also
The oath was expanded to bar from office anyone who had been disloyal to the Union
Yes, members of Congress do swear an oath to protect the Constitution. The current oath is as follows:
> "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 oath was first adopted in 1789 and was revised during the Civil War, when members of Congress were concerned about traitors. At the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln ordered all federal civilian employees within the executive branch to take an expanded oath. This was a time of uncertain and shifting loyalties. At the conclusion of its emergency session that summer, Congress adopted legislation requiring executive branch employees to take the expanded oath in support of the Union. The oath was expanded to bar from office anyone who had been disloyal to the Union.
Unions' Constitutional Rights: Examining Legal Protections
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The oath has changed several times since the first act of Congress
At the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln ordered all federal civilian employees within the executive branch to take an expanded oath. This was due to concerns about traitors and uncertain, shifting loyalties. Congress adopted legislation requiring executive branch employees to take the expanded oath in support of the Union.
The current oath is as follows: "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."
Disabled Parking: A Constitutional Right?
You may want to see also
The oath used today has not changed since 1966
The oath used today by members of Congress has not changed since 1966. The current oath is as follows:
> "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 oath is taken by the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate at the start of each new Congress, in January of every odd-numbered year. The oath is administered by the Speaker of the House, who directs the Members to rise. A Senator-elect takes the oath of office from the presiding officer in an open session of the Senate.
The original oath for members of Congress, adopted in 1789, was as follows:
> "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States."
This oath was revised during the Civil War, when members of Congress were concerned about traitors. At the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln ordered all federal civilian employees within the executive branch to take an expanded oath. At the conclusion of its emergency session that summer, Congress adopted legislation requiring executive branch employees to take the expanded oath in support of the Union.
Constitution's Protection of Gays: What's the Verdict?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, members of Congress swear an oath to protect the Constitution. The current oath 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."
Members of Congress swear this oath on the opening day of a new Congress.
The original oath, adopted in 1789, was: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States." The oath was revised during the Civil War, when members of Congress were concerned about traitors.
