Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution makes no explicit mention of God, which may seem surprising given that the Declaration of Independence invokes a Supreme Being several times. The US Constitution does, however, mention the word religion twice. Once when it forbids any religious test for public office and again in the First Amendment, which says that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. This has become the charter of religious freedom in America. Interestingly, God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall, according to a Pew Research Center analysis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times God is mentioned in the US Constitution | 0 |
| Number of times God is mentioned in state constitutions | At least once in each of the 50 state constitutions, nearly 200 times overall |
| Number of state constitutions that do not mention God | 4 (Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington) |
| Number of times the word "God" appears in state constitutions | 116 |
| States with the most references to God in their constitutions | Massachusetts (8), New Hampshire and Vermont (6 each) |
| States with constitutional provisions disqualifying persons who deny the existence of God from holding office | 7 |
| Year "In God We Trust" was ascribed into law | 1950s |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution never explicitly mentions God or the divine
- The word 'religion' appears twice in the US Constitution
- The US Constitution forbids any religious test for public office
- The Founding Fathers did not want the government to interfere in religion
- The US Constitution is different from state constitutions that mention God
The US Constitution never explicitly mentions God or the divine
The United States Constitution never explicitly mentions God or the divine. This may seem odd, given that the Declaration of Independence invokes a Supreme Being several times. However, by the time of the Constitutional Convention, most of the nation believed that an establishment of religion violated religious liberty. The Founding Fathers acknowledged that religion promoted individual morality and civic virtue, but they didn't want the new national government to interfere in matters of religion or conscience.
The Constitution does say "in the year of our Lord", but this was a boilerplate term used to record dates at that time and does not carry any weight in terms of implying the Christian God. The word "religion" appears only twice in the Constitution. Firstly, when it forbids any religious test for public office, and secondly, in the First Amendment, which says:
> "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
These sixteen words of the First Amendment have become the charter of religious freedom in America.
While the US Constitution does not mention God, the same cannot be said of the nation's state constitutions. God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall. All but four state constitutions—those in Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington—use the word "God" at least once. The constitutions in Colorado, Iowa, and Washington refer to a "Supreme Being" or "Supreme Ruler of the Universe", while Hawaii's constitution mentions the divine in its preamble, which states that the people of Hawaii are "grateful for Divine Guidance".
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The word 'religion' appears twice in the US Constitution
The word "religion" appears twice in the US Constitution. The First Amendment to the US Constitution says that the country shall have no official religion, and Americans have been debating where to draw the line between religion and government since the country's founding. The Constitution guarantees that religion can never be a requirement for holding public office, but most Americans don’t know this, according to a 2019 Pew Research Center survey.
The US Constitution never explicitly mentions God or the divine, but the same cannot be said of the nation’s state constitutions. In fact, God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. The references to God in the state constitutions largely imitate the ones made in the Declaration of Independence.
The Constitution does, however, say "in the year of our Lord", which was a boilerplate term used to record dates at that time. The founding fathers of the United States Constitution were staunch supporters of a federalist system in which each state would have the power to decide for itself how to approach religion. The First Amendment to the Constitution addresses religion in the following words: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
The absence of religion in the Constitution troubled two groups of Americans: those who wanted the new instrument of government to give faith a larger role, and those who feared that it would do so. The debate about the role of religion in government has continued into the present day, with Americans divided on whether local governments should be allowed to put religious symbols on public property.
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The US Constitution forbids any religious test for public office
The United States Constitution does not explicitly mention "God" or the divine. However, it does include the No Religious Test Clause, which forbids any religious test for public office. This clause, contained within Article VI, states that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States". This prohibition was included to prevent the return of religious tests that were previously used in England and the colonies to exclude individuals who were not members of the official state religion, such as Catholics and nonconforming Protestants, from holding government office.
The inclusion of the No Religious Test Clause demonstrates the Founding Fathers' intent to avoid any entanglement between church and state and to prevent the government from determining religious beliefs or practices. This clause provides a foundation for America's constitutional commitment to religious liberty and equality, ensuring that members of minority faiths are not barred from holding political office. It is worth noting that while the US Constitution does not mention God, the nation's state constitutions do, with God or the divine being mentioned in all 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall.
The No Religious Test Clause has been interpreted and upheld by the Supreme Court, which ruled in 1961 that religious tests for public office are a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. This ruling ensured the protection of religious freedom and equality for all Americans, regardless of their faith. The inclusion of this clause in the US Constitution is significant as it represents the Founding Fathers' desire to create a nation where individuals are free to practice their own religion without interference from the state, a right that many colonists had sought when they left England.
While the No Religious Test Clause forbids religious tests for public office, it is important to note that it does require all federal and state legislators and officers to swear or affirm their support for the federal Constitution. This oath or affirmation is not tied to any specific religious belief and is designed to ensure loyalty and support for the Constitution, rather than any particular religious doctrine. The inclusion of this requirement alongside the prohibition on religious tests demonstrates the Founding Fathers' careful consideration of the role of religion in government and their commitment to religious freedom and equality.
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The Founding Fathers did not want the government to interfere in religion
The Founding Fathers of the United States came from similar religious backgrounds, with most being Protestants. The largest number were raised in the three largest Christian traditions of colonial America: Anglicanism, Presbyterianism, and Congregationalism. Other Protestant groups included the Society of Friends (Quakers), Lutherans, and the Dutch Reformed. Three of the Founding Fathers were of Roman Catholic heritage. While the religious beliefs of the Founding Fathers have been a topic of debate, with some arguing that they held orthodox beliefs and others claiming that they were influenced by Deism, it is clear that they did not want the government to interfere in religion.
This is evident in the United States Constitution, which contains no explicit mention of God or the divine. Unlike the Declaration of Independence, which invokes a Supreme Being, the Constitution makes no reference to a higher power. The Founding Fathers deliberately chose not to establish the USA as a Christian nation. This is further supported by the fact that the Constitution does not demand an end to religious tests, and it ensures that people are free to worship according to their beliefs.
While God is not mentioned in the US Constitution, the same cannot be said for the state constitutions. According to a Pew Research Center analysis, God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall. However, these references to God in state constitutions largely imitate those made in the Declaration of Independence. The mentions of God in state constitutions include acknowledgments of God as the source of people's liberties and invocations of God's favor and guidance.
The Founding Fathers' intention to keep government and religion separate is also reflected in their embrace of liberal political ideals, such as universal education, freedom of the press, and religious toleration. Deism, a movement that influenced a majority of the Founding Fathers, stood for rational inquiry, skepticism about dogma and mystery, and religious toleration. The influence of Deism, along with the absence of God in the US Constitution, indicates that the Founding Fathers did not want the government to interfere in religion.
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The US Constitution is different from state constitutions that mention God
The United States Constitution does not contain any reference to God or the divine. The US Constitution also does not demand a religious or non-religious stance. However, the nation's state constitutions differ in this regard.
According to a Pew Research Center analysis, God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall. All but four state constitutions—those in Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington—use the word "God" at least once. The constitutions in Colorado, Iowa, and Washington refer to a "Supreme Being" or "Supreme Ruler of the Universe," while Hawaii's constitution mentions the divine in its preamble, expressing gratitude for "Divine Guidance."
Most state constitutions refer to God more than once. Of the 116 times the word appears in state constitutions, eight are in the Massachusetts constitution, and New Hampshire and Vermont have six references each. In addition to these explicit mentions, there are also various terms and phrases that allude to the divine. For example, seven states have constitutional provisions that disqualify persons who deny the existence of God from holding office, although these provisions are no longer enforced and have been ruled as violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
The references to God in the state constitutions often acknowledge God as the source of people's liberties and invoke His favor and guidance. They also appear in the context of religious freedom, with many states mentioning "Almighty God," endorsing the Judeo-Christian-Islamic deity. The state constitutions also contain oaths of office that include the closing statement, "So help me God," and some states have provisions that allow for an alternate statement, while others do not.
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Frequently asked questions
God is not mentioned in the US Constitution. However, the word "religion" appears twice. Once when the Constitution forbids any religious test for public office, and again in the First Amendment, which says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
God is referenced in every state constitution, with the exception of Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington. God is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall.
By the time of the Constitutional Convention, most of the nation believed that an establishment of religion violated religious liberty. The Founding Fathers wanted religion to thrive but did not want the new national government to interfere in matters of religion or conscience.
