Legal Definitions - Oath or Affirmation Clause

The Oath or Affirmation Clause is a part of the United States Constitution that requires all members of Congress, state legislatures, and the executive or judicial branches to pledge their support for the Constitution by taking an oath or affirmation.

For example, when a new member of Congress is sworn in, they must recite 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; 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 oath ensures that all government officials are committed to upholding the principles and values of the Constitution, which is the foundation of our democracy.