Oath is a pledge or promise. The judicial oath is probably the most common form. It is used in a court of law, at a deposition, or before a notary public or other judicial officer (see Deposition ; Notary public ). A witness taking a judicial oath swears that all of his or her statements are true. Often the person must lay a hand on the Bible while taking the oath. This gesture means that the person is making a declaration through God. A person swearing to the truth of an affidavit may be given the following oath: “You do solemnly swear that the contents of this affidavit by you subscribed are true, so help you God.”
A person who takes an oath in court and then makes a dishonest statement while under oath is guilty of perjury, a crime punishable by a fine or jail sentence.
All of us are familiar with oaths in everyday life. For example, a person who promises to give up a bad habit is said to “take an oath.” This kind of oath is called extrajudicial because it has no force in a court of law. Oaths taken to show good faith are also extrajudicial.
Affirmation.
Some religious groups, such as the Quakers, do not approve of swearing by an oath. They believe in the Bible’s command “Swear not at all.” When members of such groups testify in court, they take an affirmation instead of an oath. The affirmation binds them to the truth as strongly as an oath would. If a person violates an affirmation, he or she becomes guilty of perjury.
Oath of office.
Many officials must take a pledge when they enter a public office. This oath of office is a promise to carry out the duties of the office honestly and faithfully. According to the Constitution of the United States, the nation’s president must take the following oath at the inauguration: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
All United States officers lower in rank than the president take oaths much like the one above. An officer taking over a state public office promises to protect the state constitution as well as the U.S. Constitution.
In Canada, many government officials take a pledge upon entering public office. Officials appointed to the federal Senate or elected to the House of Commons, and members of the legislative bodies of the provinces, take the following oath: “I do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His (or Her) Majesty …”
Military oaths
are taken by people who enter the armed forces. Before entering military service in the United States, a person must 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.” Members of the armed forces of Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries take a similar oath.
See also Citizenship ; Hippocrates (The Hippocratic oath) ; Perjury .
