New Delhi: Oath-taking is important in every field, and with the oath comes many responsibilities. The meaning of ‘oath of office’ is an oath or affirmation a person takes before assuming the duties of an office. Donald Trump is all set for the oath ceremony today, January 20. He will be the 47th President of the United States of America (USA). As all preparations are in place, let us, in this article, understand what the 35-word oath of office is, its history and its importance.
The 35-Word Oath Text and Significance
In the United States, the oath of office for the President is specified in the Constitution (Article II, Section 1). The oath of office of the President of the USA is just 35 words and holds great importance to every citizen of the country.
The oath of office that Donald Trump will take: “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 more than just a general promise of loyalty. It requires the new president to swear or affirm: “I will do my best to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Who administers the oath of office to the President?
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court gives the oath of office to the President on January 20. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the constitutionally mandated 35-word presidential oath of office during the ceremony.
A Historical Look at the Presidential Oath
The tradition of taking an oath has existed since the First Congress in 1789, but the current oath was created in the 1860s. Members of Congress drafted it during the Civil War to address the issue of traitors.
In 1789, the first United States Congress passed the Oath Administration Act, which created an oath of office to meet the requirement of Article VI of the United States Constitution. They also passed the Judiciary Act of 1789, which introduced a separate oath for federal judges.
When the Civil War broke out, taking the oath became very important. In April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln required all federal civilian employees in the executive branch to take a new, more detailed oath. When Congress held a brief emergency session in July, they followed Lincoln’s lead by passing a law that required employees to take this expanded oath to support the Union. This became the first version of the oath we see today.
In December 1861, Congress added changes because some believed northern traitors were as much a threat as southern soldiers. They revised the oath to include a new first section called the “Ironclad Test Oath”.
The Test Oath, signed into law on July 2, 1862, required anyone elected or appointed to any federal office (except the President) to promise they had never done anything disloyal or illegal before. Employees who did not take this oath would not get paid, and those who lied would face severe penalties, including being barred from federal employment.
The second part of the 1862 oath changed the hastily made 1861 oath. Although Congress did not require its own members to take the Ironclad Test Oath, many did so voluntarily. Some in Congress were upset with those who refused to take this oath during the war and wanted to prevent former Southern leaders from regaining power. By 1864, the Test Oath became mandatory for all members of Congress.
The Senate then updated its rules to require members to take the Test Oath aloud and also sign a printed copy. This practice started because military and civilian authorities required anyone wanting to do business with the government to sign a version of the Test Oath. Nowadays, newly sworn senators sign individual pages in an oath book, a practice from that time.
After the Civil War, Congress allowed some former Confederates to take a simpler version of the 1862 oath. In 1868, a law provided this alternative for those who had participated in the rebellion and had their legal disabilities removed by Congress. Northern lawmakers criticized this new law, saying it unfairly let ex-Confederates avoid the harsh first section that loyal Unionists had to take. In 1884, a new group of lawmakers repealed the first section of the Test Oath, keeping only the affirmation of loyalty to the Constitution.
To swear or not to swear?
The oath says “swear (or affirm)”, meaning a president can choose not to use the term swear. NPR reports that this option exists because Quakers believe people should never swear. President Franklin Pierce used the word affirm at his inauguration in 1853.
Who added the phrase “so help me God” to the oath?
The Constitution does not mention the phrase “so help me, God”. So why do presidents include it? There is a myth that President George Washington added this phrase, but the Library of Congress and Mount Vernon, Washington’s home, have disputed it.
The first known account of a president using the phrase was during Chester A Arthur’s inauguration in 1881. Since then, every President has added it to the end of the oath.
In 2009, Michael Newdow filed a lawsuit to stop the phrase from being included in oaths. President Obama wanted to say it during his inauguration that year. The Supreme Court chose not to hear the case, so Obama did include “so help me God” in his swearing-in.
Donald Trump Inauguration 2025: This article explores the history and significance of the US Presidential Oath of Office, specifically focusing on the 35-word pledge Donald Trump will take. We look at the origins of the Oath of office, tracing its evolution from the first Congress to its current form. The article highlights the profound historical and constitutional importance of this solemn ceremony. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
