This condition reflected a wartime practice in which military and civilian authorities required anyone wishing to do business with the federal government to sign a copy of the Test Oath. The resolution also required senators to "subscribe" to the oath by signing a printed copy. At the urging of Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, the Senate adopted a resolution in January 1864 to require all senators to take the Test Oath. Congress also revised the rest of the oath with language that closely resembles the modern oath.Īlthough Congress did not extend coverage of the Ironclad Test Oath to its own members, many took it voluntarily. Government employees who swore falsely would be prosecuted for perjury and forever denied federal employment. In July 1862 Congress added a new section to the oath, which became known as the "Ironclad Test Oath." The Test Oath 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. At the conclusion of its emergency session that summer, Congress adopted legislation requiring executive branch employees to take the expanded oath in support of the Union. For other officials, including members of Congress, that document specifies only that they "shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation to support this constitution." In 1789 the First Congress adopted a simple oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States."Īt the outbreak of the Civil War in April of 1861, a time of uncertain and shifting loyalties, President Abraham Lincoln ordered all federal civilian employees within the executive branch to take an expanded oath. The Constitution contains an oath of office for the president of the United States. While the oath-taking practice dates back to the First Congress in 1789, the current oath is a product of the 1860s, drafted during the Civil War. So help me God.Īt the start of each new Congress, in January of every odd-numbered year, one-third of senators take the oath of office to begin their new terms. The language of the current Oath is found in the Code of Federal Regulations Section 337.1 and is closely based upon the statutory elements in Section 337(a) of the INA.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. Perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law. Perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law orĬ. Bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law orī. Bear true faith and allegiance to the same and.Support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.Renounce and abjure absolutely and entirely all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which the applicant was before a subject or citizen.The principles embodied in the Oath are codified in Section 337(a) in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which provides that all applicants shall take an oath that incorporates the substance of the following: Note: In certain circumstances there can be a modification or waiver of the Oath of Allegiance. "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion so help me God."
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