what oath does an attorney general take upon assuming office

by Prof. Edmond Ledner 5 min read

The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of public lands, and insurance commissioner, shall, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe an oath or affirmation in substance as follows: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of (name of office) to the best of my ability.

"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States
Constitution of the United States
What the Constitution Means to Me is a 2017 American play by Heidi Schreck. ... Over the course of the play, Schreck addresses themes such as women's rights, immigration, domestic abuse, and the history of the United States.
https://en.wikipedia.org › What_the_Constitution_Means_to_Me
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 I will well and faithfully discharge ...

Full Answer

What does oath of office stand for?

"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 …

Who is allowed to administer the oath of office?

Jan 03, 2011 · An opinion of the Attorney General in 1875 declared that Members of Congress do not assume office until the completion of the oath, but that a state may not question a state representative’s ...

How to obtain general power of attorney?

Oath of office. The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of public lands, and insurance commissioner, shall, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe an oath or affirmation in substance as follows: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I …

How many words are in the oath of office?

"Every officer in the executive branch, and indeed all employees in the federal government, save a few rare instances that are Constitutionally or otherwise statutorily differentiated -- i.e. the President, and Supreme Court justices, recite the following oath: 'I (name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, …

What is the oath of the Attorney General?

I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of an attorney and counse1or at law to the best of my knowledge and ability.

Which president did not use the Bible to take the oath of office?

Theodore Roosevelt did not use the Bible when taking the oath in 1901, nor did John Quincy Adams, who swore on a book of law, with the intention that he was swearing on the constitution. Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on a Roman Catholic missal on Air Force One.

Is an oath of office legally binding?

The Constitution sets out the Presidential Oath in full, and expressly provides that Congress “shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation to support this constitution.” State and local governments adopted oaths modeled after the federal oath, and the taking of an oath has become a requisite for holding nearly any public ...

Is violating oath of office a crime?

The bill would authorize the county to maintain a record, subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act, of each person so required to file a new oath of office, indicating whether or not the person has complied. Violating an oath or affirmation is a crime.

What president rewrote the Bible?

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson was known as an inventor and tinkerer. But this time he was tinkering with something held sacred by hundreds of millions of people: the Bible. Using his clippings, the aging third president created a New Testament of his own—one that most Christians would hardly recognize.Aug 1, 2019

Which president had his oath administered to him by a former president?

The presidential oath of office was administered to the new president by his father, John Calvin Coolidge Sr., who was a Vermont notary public and justice of the peace. On Tuesday, August 21, 1923, President Coolidge repeated the oath before Justice Adolph A.

What is the difference between a pledge and an oath?

pledge is a solemn promise to do something while oath is a solemn pledge or promise to a god, king, or another person, to attest to the truth of a statement or contract.

What is the oath new citizens take?

Key principle: I promise that I will protect the Constitution and all laws from all enemies, from other countries, or from inside the United States. SECTION 3 …that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; Key principle: I promise that my loyalty is to the United States only.

What is the constitutional oath?

Article 2, Section 1, of the US Constitution prescribes the Oath. It says “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.”Jan 4, 2021

What happens if you break an oath of office?

In order to comply with the Constitution, Congress has enacted federal laws to execute and enforce this constitutional requirement. ... The fourth federal law, 18 U.S.C. 1918 provides penalties for violation of oath office described in 5 U.S.C. 7311 which include: (1) removal from office and; (2) confinement or a fine.

Is violating the Constitution treason?

Treason is a unique offense in our constitutional order—the only crime expressly defined by the Constitution, and applying only to Americans who have betrayed the allegiance they are presumed to owe the United States.

Can you sue the government for violating the Constitution?

There is a fundamental inequity in the ability of Americans to enforce their rights under the United States Constitution. If a person's constitutional rights are violated by local or state government actors, the person can sue the government actors for damages to compensate for the harm suffered.Oct 10, 2021

Why do we take oaths?

At the start of each new Congress, all Members beginning a new term of office (the entire House of Representative and one-third of the Senate) take an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. In doing so, the Members of Congress perform an act that harkens back to the country’s founding and its first principles. As it applies to Members of Congress, the “Oaths Clause” plays an important role by obliging them to observe the limits of their authority and act in accordance with the powers delegated to them by the Constitution. The oath also serves as a solemn reminder that the duty to uphold the Constitution is not the exclusive or final responsibility of the Judiciary but is shared by Congress and the President (per Article II, Section 1) as co-equal branches of the United States government. This essay is adapted from The Heritage Guide to the Constitution for a new series providing constitutional guidance for lawmakers.

Who is Matthew Spalding?

Matthew Spalding, Ph.D., is the Director of the B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies at The Heritage Foundation and the Executive Editor of The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, in which this essay was originally published.

What is the oath of office?

An oath of office is a promise required of most federal officials to carry out the duties set forth in the U.S. Constitution. The president and vice president, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and justices joining the U.S. Supreme Court all publicly take oaths before assuming office.

How many vice presidents have taken the oath of office?

Eight vice presidents have taken the oath of office upon the death of a president, while another was sworn in following a presidential resignation, according to U.S. Senate records. Vice President John Tyler was sworn in on April 6, 1841, following the death of President William Henry Harrison.

When was the oath of office taken?

At the start of each new Congress, the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are sworn into office. This oath-taking dates to 1789 , the first Congress; however, the current oath was fashioned in the 1860s, by Civil War-era members of Congress.

What is the oath of office of the President?

The president is required by Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution to take the following oath of 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 ...

When is the inauguration day?

For most of the nation's history, inauguration day was March 4. Since President Franklin D. Roosevelt 's second term in 1937, that ceremony occurs on Jan. 20, according to the 20th Amendment, which specifies that a president's term should begin at noon on that date of the year following a presidential election.

Who is Kathy Gill?

Kathy Gill is a former instructor at the University of Washington, a former lobbyist, and spent 20 years working public affairs executive in the natural resources industry. our editorial process. Kathy Gill. Updated June 23, 2018.

When was Lyndon Johnson sworn in?

Vice President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in on Nov. 22, 1963, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Vice President Gerald R. Ford was sworn in on Aug. 9, 1974, following the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

What is an oath?

Some philosophers and anthropologists define an oath as a ritual act, or more specifically a “ speech act .”. An oath is one kind of speech act. Taking an oath expresses a specific intention to others, using words like “I promise to” or “I swear that.”. The intention when taking an oath is not limited to the moment someone articulates the words ...

How many oaths do Supreme Court Justices take?

Supreme Court justices take two oaths, one judicial, and the other constitutional. The oath ceremony is still a serious performative utterance. The appointees take these oaths in front of witnesses, who are themselves representative of the entire community the appointees will serve.

What is an oath taking?

Oath-taking is also about the intention in the future to commit to act in a certain way. One example is the vows taken by couples during their wedding in front of witnesses. British philosopher John L. Austin called oaths “ performative utterances.”. The engaged couple, for example, declare their act of marrying each other by speaking their vows ...

What is the most solemn oath in the Roman military?

The most solemn military oath – directly invoking the Roman gods – was the “ sacramentum .”. By this oath, soldiers swore allegiance to their specific general or commanding consul and, later, to the emperor. Disobedience could earn severe punishments.

What did Christians do in the Middle Ages?

In the early Middle Ages, Christians took oaths in the name of God, often while holding a religious object like a relic of a saint or a book of the Gospels. In most cases, oaths were not strictly person to person, but involved the wider community in some important way. Kings took coronation oaths, swearing to rule justly and safeguard the people ...

How long do justices serve?

But in practice, justices serve for life, until death or retirement, and are bound in good conscience to carry out their “duties” as they have sworn to do. The conscience of appointees, not the preservation of their personal reputations, has been the focus of these “oaths of office” for almost 250 years.

When is Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing?

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is sworn in Oct. 12 for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leah Millis/Pool via AP. The confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett have drawn much notice for her religious worldview. Barrett’s alleged commitment to a small Christian religious group, People of Praise, ...