Isabella Carter
The presidential oath of office is a pledge to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. The oath is taken by the president before they enter office and is a promise to uphold the Constitution and faithfully execute the duties of the presidency. The exact wording of the oath has been debated and occasionally misspoken by presidents and justices, but the core promise to protect the Constitution remains the same.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| 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." |
| Clause | Article VI, Clause 3 |
| Impeachment | Article I, Section 3 requires Senators, when sitting to try impeachments, to be "on Oath or Affirmation." |
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What You'll Learn
- The presidential oath requires more than a general oath of allegiance and fidelity
- The president must swear to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution
- The president must swear to faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States
- The president has the right to refuse to enforce statutes and judicial decisions
- The president must swear an oath before entering the execution of his office
The presidential oath requires more than a general oath of allegiance and fidelity
> 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 oath is required by Article VI, Clause 3, of the US Constitution, which states that the persons specified therein must "be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution".
The presidential oath is more than a symbolic gesture. It has been argued that the president's obligation to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution gives them the right to refuse to enforce statutes and judicial decisions that they believe are unwarranted by the Constitution. This interpretation of the presidential oath was supported by President Andrew Jackson, who vetoed the act renewing the Bank of the United States on the grounds that it was unconstitutional.
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The president must swear to preserve, protect and defend 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."
The oath requires more than a general oath of allegiance and fidelity. It enjoins the new president to swear or affirm that they will uphold the Constitution. The president must take this oath before they enter the execution of their office.
In the past, there have been some variations in the wording of the oath. For example, in 1925, Chief Justice Taft administered the second oath of President Calvin Coolidge with some minor changes in word order. In 1965, Chief Justice Earl Warren prompted Lyndon B. Johnson to say, "the Office of the Presidency of the United States" instead of "the office of President of the United States." And in 1973, President Richard Nixon added the word "and" between "preserve" and "protect." Despite these minor variations, the core meaning of the oath has remained consistent: the president must swear to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.
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The president must swear to faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States
The presidential oath of office requires the president to swear or affirm that they will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States. The oath requires more than a general oath of allegiance and fidelity. The president must swear to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
The exact wording of the oath 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 presidential oath is required to be taken before the president enters office. The oath is considered to add to the powers of the president, as it gives them the right to refuse to enforce statutes and judicial decisions that they believe are unwarranted by the Constitution.
There have been several occasions where the wording of the oath has been misspoken. In 1925, Chief Justice Taft administered the second oath of President Calvin Coolidge, saying "...the office of the President of the United States" instead of "...the office of President of the United States". In 1929, Taft again misspoken the oath when swearing in President Herbert Hoover, using the words "preserve, maintain, and defend the Constitution," instead of "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution." In 1965, Chief Justice Earl Warren prompted Lyndon B. Johnson to say, "the Office of the Presidency of the United States." And in 1973, President Richard Nixon added the word "and" between "preserve" and "protect."
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The president has the right to refuse to enforce statutes and judicial decisions
The presidential oath of office requires the president to swear or affirm:
> 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 presidential oath requires much more than a general oath of allegiance and fidelity. It enjoins the new president to swear or affirm their commitment to preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution. This commitment is so important that, in 1965, Chief Justice Earl Warren prompted Lyndon B. Johnson to say, "the Office of the Presidency of the United States" during his oath, emphasising the weight of the promise he was making.
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The president must swear an oath before entering the execution of his office
> 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 wording of the oath has been garbled on several occasions, most notably by Chief Justice Taft in 1925 and 1929. In 1965, Chief Justice Earl Warren prompted Lyndon B. Johnson to say, "the Office of the Presidency of the United States", and in 1973, President Richard Nixon added the word "and" between "preserve" and "protect".
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Frequently asked questions
The presidential oath of office requires the president to swear or affirm: "I will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United 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."
Article VI, Clause 3, of the US Constitution requires the president to "be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution."
The president takes the oath before entering the execution of his office.
Yes, in 1925, Chief Justice Taft famously garbled the oath when he swore in President Calvin Coolidge. Taft used the words "the office of the President of the United States" instead of "the office of President of the United States", and "and that to the best of my ability" instead of "and will to the best of my ability".
