Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution requires an oath for federal and state officials, but the specifics, such as the wording of the oath, are left to the First Congress. The oath of office, also known as a swearing-in ceremony, is mandatory for officials to take before assuming office. While the Constitution only specifies an oath of office for the President, it does allow for the option of an affirmation instead of an oath. Most presidents have opted to take the oath using a Bible and including the customary closing phrase So help me God. The current oath for members of Congress includes the words, 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 on the Bible? | The President of the United States, Vice President, members of Congress, and members of the House of Representatives. |
| When is the oath taken? | When a new President assumes office, and 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 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." |
| Is the oath mandatory? | Yes, the oath is mandatory for the President, but it can be omitted by other officials, in which case it would be called an affirmation. |
| Is there a closing phrase? | There is no mandatory closing phrase, but most Presidents have opted to close with "So help me God." |
| Is a Bible necessary? | A Bible is not necessary, but most Presidents have opted to use one. |
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What You'll Learn
- The US President's oath is the only one specified in the Constitution
- The President's oath does not include the phrase So help me God
- The President can choose to take an affirmation instead of an oath
- The Vice President takes a similar oath to the President
- Members of Congress have taken various oaths over time
The US President's oath is the only one specified in the Constitution
The US Constitution outlines the oath of office for the president, which 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 Constitution gives the option to "'affirm' instead of 'swear,'" which may be due to certain Christians, including Quakers, who interpret scripture literally: "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation" (James 5:12, KJV). Franklin Pierce is the only president known to have used the word "affirm" rather than "swear."
The US Constitution does not specify oaths for other officials, including members of Congress, beyond stating that they "shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation to support this constitution." 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." Over time, this oath has been revised, such as during the Civil War when concerns about traitors arose.
In summary, the US President's oath is the only one explicitly outlined in the Constitution, while other officials follow more general guidelines for their oaths or affirmations of office.
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The President's oath does not include the phrase So help me God
The Presidential Oath of Office, as outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, does not include the phrase "So help me God." The Oath as prescribed by the Constitution states: "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 absence of religious wording in the officially mandated Oath is significant and intentional. The Founding Fathers, many of whom were influenced by Enlightenment ideals, sought to establish a secular government that did not impose any particular religious beliefs or practices on its officials or citizens. By keeping the Oath secular, they ensured that individuals of diverse religious backgrounds, or no religious beliefs, could assume the Office without compromising their personal convictions.
The phrase "So help me God" is often added by Presidents at the end of the Oath as a personal affirmation, reflecting their own religious beliefs and traditions. This addition is not mandated by the Constitution and is not legally required. It is important to note that the inclusion of this phrase is a matter of personal choice and does not alter the official nature of the Oath as prescribed by the Constitution.
The practice of adding "So help me God" to the Presidential Oath can be traced back to the first President, George Washington. Historical accounts suggest that Washington added these words when he took the Oath of Office during his first inauguration in 1789. Since then, many, but not all, Presidents have chosen to include this phrase, reflecting their personal faith and the important role that religion has played in their lives and in the nation's history.
However, it is essential to distinguish between personal religious expression and the official requirements of the Oath. The absence of "So help me God" in the constitutionally mandated Oath underscores the secular nature of the office and ensures that the President's duty is primarily to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the land, rather than any particular religious doctrine.
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The President can choose to take an affirmation instead of an oath
The President of the United States is required to take an oath of office before assuming office and exercising any official powers or duties. The oath is specified in Article II, Section One, Clause 8, of the United States Constitution, and 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.
Historically, most presidents, at least during the last century, have opted to take the oath rather than an affirmation, and to use a Bible to do so. The use of a Bible is not a requirement, however. The President also has the option of concluding the oath with the customary phrase "So help me God", but this is not part of the oath as specified in the Constitution.
Other officials, including members of Congress, are also required to take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution, as outlined in Article VI of the Constitution. The wording of this oath is not specified in the Constitution and has been amended and changed multiple times.
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The Vice President takes a similar oath to the President
The current oath taken by the Vice President is:
> "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."
This oath is similar to the President's, which is:
> "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 President's oath is specified in Article II, Section One, Clause 8, of the United States Constitution, and a new president is required to take it before exercising or carrying out any official powers or duties. The Vice President's oath, on the other hand, is not specified in the Constitution. Instead, Article VI, Clause 3 provides that "all...Officers...of the United States...shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution".
The President's oath is usually administered by the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, but not always. For example, Lyndon Johnson was sworn in by Sarah T. Hughes, a U.S. District Judge in Texas, after the death of John F. Kennedy. The Vice President's oath is also usually administered by the Chief Justice, but it can also be administered by a variety of other officials.
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Members of Congress have taken various oaths over time
The Constitution outlines that members of Congress "shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation to support this Constitution". The original oath for members of Congress was: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States". This oath was adopted in 1789 by the First Congress.
During the Civil War, members of Congress were concerned about traitors and revised the oath. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln ordered all federal civilian employees within the executive branch to take an expanded oath. This became known as the "Ironclad Test Oath". It 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 1864, the Senate adopted a resolution requiring all senators to take the Test Oath and to sign a printed copy. Following the Civil War, some former Confederates were permitted to take only the second section of the 1862 oath. This led to complaints of a double standard, and in 1884, the first section of the Test Oath was repealed, leaving today's affirmation of constitutional allegiance.
Today, members of Congress take an oath to uphold the Constitution at the start of each new Congress. 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".
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Frequently asked questions
No, the US Constitution does not require an oath on the Bible. The Constitution only specifies an oath of office for the President, which does not include the closing phrase "So help me God," and allows for the option of an affirmation instead.
The oath of office for the President of the United States is specified in Article II, Section One, Clause 8, of the Constitution: "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."
Yes, in addition to the presidential oath, there are two other oath or affirmation clauses in the Constitution. Article I, Section 3 requires Senators, when sitting to try impeachments, to be "on Oath or Affirmation." Article VI, Clause 3, states that certain persons "shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution." Additionally, the Vice President, members of Congress, and Supreme Court Justices also take oaths of office.
