Isabella Carter
The word God is notably absent from the US Constitution, despite its inclusion in the Declaration of Independence and other important US documents and symbols such as the Pledge of Allegiance and US currency. The US Constitution is predicated on the notion of popular sovereignty, deriving its legitimacy from the consent of the governed, rather than from a higher power. While the US Constitution does not mention God, nearly all state constitutions reference either God or the divine. The omission of God from the US Constitution has been a point of contention, with campaigns to recognize God in the Constitution sparking congressional action as early as 1894.
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution does not mention God
The US Constitution's avoidance of any reference to God is in keeping with its secular nature. The US Constitution is a secular document, guaranteeing freedom of conscience and religious neutrality. This is in contrast to the constitutions of some European countries, which invoke God or make reference to spiritual heritage.
The Founding Fathers' decision to exclude any mention of God from the US Constitution was a deliberate one, demonstrating their wisdom and foresight. By not invoking a specific deity, they created an inclusive document that all Americans, regardless of their religious beliefs, could support. This was essential to fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose during the Revolution and the fight for independence.
The US Constitution's secular nature also serves to legitimize governmental power by declaring it to be exercised according to the will of the people, rather than the will of God. This principle of a government answerable to the people has been a bedrock of America's pluralistic society.
While the US Constitution does not mention God, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. Additionally, seven states still have constitutional provisions disqualifying 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.
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The US Declaration of Independence mentions God
The US Declaration of Independence, the document that officially cut ties with Britain, mentions God. The document contains three main sections. The first section explains the natural rights of man, the second lists twenty-seven grievances against the British King, and the third contains the actual declaration of independence.
The first mention of God occurs in the very first sentence of the declaration, which refers to the source of power being the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God". The founders recognised that they had not created the power to establish a nation, but rather that power was given to them from God. The second mention of God is as the Creator Who endows humans with unalienable rights. In other words, God is the granter of human rights and the Creator of natural law. The third mention of God is as the "Supreme Judge of the World". The fourth and final mention of God is in the last sentence of the declaration: "with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor".
While the US Declaration of Independence mentions God, the US Constitution does not make any reference to God. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. At the state level, the constitutions of many states make references to God, generally using invocations of "God the Almighty" or the "Supreme Ruler of the Universe".
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State constitutions reference God or the divine
The US Constitution does not explicitly mention God or the divine. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. The Declaration of Independence, on the other hand, includes four religious references: "Nature's God", "Creator", "Supreme Judge of the World", and "divine Providence".
In contrast, all 50 state constitutions in the US contain at least one reference to God or the divine, with nearly 200 mentions in total. Only the states of Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington do not use the word "God", but they do include some form of religious reference, such as "Supreme Being", "Supreme Ruler of the Universe", or "Divine Guidance". The constitutions of 34 states refer to God more than once, with Massachusetts and North Carolina topping the list with the highest number of religious references.
The inclusion of religious references in state constitutions has sparked debate about the separation of church and state. While some see these references as a historical tradition or an acknowledgment of shared values, others view them as a challenge to secular authority. In a few state constitutions, there are explicit prohibitions on non-believers holding public office, but these bans are not enforced due to their conflict with the US Constitution's prohibition on religious tests for public officeholders.
The approach to referencing God or the divine in constitutions varies internationally. Some countries with constitutions that do not mention God include Norway, Luxembourg, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. In contrast, the preambles of the constitutions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia refer to their countries' "spiritual wealth" and "spiritual heritage", respectively. The 2020 amendments to the Russian constitution also added a reference to God.
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The role of religion in the US government
The United States Constitution does not explicitly mention God or the divine. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. The absence of a direct reference to God in the US Constitution is notable, especially when compared to the Declaration of Independence, which invokes a Supreme Being and expresses a reliance on divine Providence.
The Founding Fathers of the United States, who drafted both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, were influenced by the religious and cultural traditions of their time. Treaties between Christian nations often began with an invocation of God, and this tradition carried over into the founding documents of some European states. However, the US Constitution, with its strong emphasis on popular sovereignty, derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed rather than from a higher power. This secular approach to governance is further reflected in the US Constitution's prohibition on requiring religious tests for those holding public office.
At the state level, the story is different. 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. Most state constitutions refer to God more than once, with eight mentions in the Massachusetts constitution and six references each in New Hampshire and Vermont. A handful of state constitutions even prohibit those who do not believe in God from holding public office, although these bans are generally not enforced due to their conflict with the US Constitution.
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References to God in other countries' constitutions
The United States Constitution does not contain any reference to God. However, the nation's state constitutions mention God or the divine at least once, with nearly 200 mentions overall. The US Constitution does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII.
Constitutional references to God exist in the constitutions of several nations, most often in the preamble. A reference to God in a legal text is called invocatio dei ('invocation of God') if the text is proclaimed in the name of a deity. Such references are found in several European constitutional traditions and the constitutions of Islamic countries. Treaties between Christian nations customarily began with an invocation of God until the late 19th century. However, laicist nations like France and those influenced by it have not carried on this tradition to preserve state religious neutrality. Some European countries whose constitutions do not mention God include Norway, Luxembourg, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
The Basic Law of Saudi Arabia mentions God, stating that "God's Book and the Sunna of His Prophet" form the country's constitution. The preambles to the constitutions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia do not mention God directly but refer to the countries' "spiritual wealth" and "the spiritual heritage of Cyril and Methodius", respectively. Poland and Ukraine's constitutional preambles contain a nominatio dei. The 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia also added a reference to God.
The United Kingdom does not have a codified constitution but is regarded as a collection of other legislation, legal customs, and precedent. However, documents like the Magna Carta contain several references to God. Sweden has a similar system, with no constitution but fundamental laws.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the US Constitution does not mention God or the divine.
The US Constitution is predicated on the Declaration of Independence, which does mention God. The theory of government underpinning the US Constitution is popular sovereignty, which holds that the government's legitimacy is derived from the consent of the governed, not a higher power.
Yes, God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall.
