Oaths Of Office In The United States

The Constitution specifies the exact oath of office to be taken by the President of the United States. And it outlines the requirements of oaths of office to be taken by other public officials, in the Federal Government and in the States. The United States Code then specifies the exact oaths of office for three different categories of Federal personnel: Most Other Officials, Federal Justices and Judges, and Military Enlisted Personnel.

Oath Of Office For The President

"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."

           Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, 
           he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:-"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." 
           

And the outline for the oaths of other Public Officials is shown here:

           The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, 
           and the Members of the several State Legislatures, 
           and all executive and judicial Officers, both 
           of the United States and of the several States, shall 
           be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this 
           Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required 
           as a Qualification to any Office or public 
           Trust under the United States. 

Constitution: See Article VI

The Oath Of Office For Most Other Federal Officials, Other Than The President (including the Vice President, Cabinet members, members of Congress, Presidential civilian appointees, military officers, and civil servants)

"I, AB, 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."

             TITLE 5--GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES
 
                           PART III--EMPLOYEES
 
                   Subpart B--Employment and Retention
 
            CHAPTER 33--EXAMINATION, SELECTION, AND PLACEMENT
 
                      SUBCHAPTER II--OATH OF OFFICE
 
Sec. 3331. Oath of office
    An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an 
office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, 
shall take the following oath: ``I, AB, 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.'' This section does not affect other oaths 
required by law.

The Oath Of Office For Supreme Court Justices And Other Federal Judges

"I, ___ ___, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as ___ under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God."

 
               TITLE 28--JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
 
                     PART I--ORGANIZATION OF COURTS
 
     CHAPTER 21--GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO COURTS AND JUDGES
 
Sec. 453. Oaths of justices and judges
    Each justice or judge of the United States shall take the following 
oath or affirmation before performing the duties of his office: ``I, ___ 
___, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice 
without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the 
rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform 
all the duties incumbent upon me as ___ under the Constitution and laws 
of the United States. So help me God.''

The Military Enlistment Oath (for enlisted personnel)

"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; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

NOTE: Military enlisted personnel swear to obey the orders given to them by their officers, up through their chain of command, to the President. No people other than enlisted military swear any kind of oath to obey the President. The first obligation of Military Officers and Government officials is to obey the Constitution and the duly-enacted Laws, not to obey the President. Even Executive Branch officials must not obey the President if he asks them to do anything which is unlawful. This is their Constitutional obligation, which their oath of office compels them to obey.

                         TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES
 
                    Subtitle A--General Military Law
 
                           PART II--PERSONNEL
 
                         CHAPTER 31--ENLISTMENTS
 
Sec. 502. Enlistment oath: who may administer
    Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following 
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; and that I will obey the orders of the 
    President of the United States and the orders of the officers 
    appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of 
    Military Justice. So help me God.''
This oath may be taken before any commissioned officer of any armed 
force.

MORE

For an excellent discussion of military oaths, please see this official essay at http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj02/win02/ keskel.html

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