Oath of office
A solemn vow required before assuming official duties.
An oath of office is a solemn vow or affirmation taken before assuming the duties of a position, typically in government or a religious body, and is often required by law before the person may exercise the powers of the office. It may be administered at a public ceremony such as an inauguration or coronation, or privately, sometimes repeated later in a public setting. Some oaths are statements of allegiance to a constitution, legal text, or a monarch, and betraying such an oath may be considered treason or a high crime. The oath is often performed using an oath book, such as the Bible, and alternative terms like 'solemn promise' or 'solemnly affirm' are used for those who choose not to swear.
- field
- Government and legal procedure
- known_for
- Formal vow taken before assuming office, often including allegiance to a constitution or sovereign
Lore & Background
In Antigua and Barbuda, the Governor-General, Prime Minister, other Ministers, and Parliamentary Secretaries must take an oath of allegiance and oath of office, with the latter also including an oath of secrecy. Members of the Public Service Commission take both oaths, while members of both Houses of Parliament only take the oath of allegiance before participating. These oaths may be taken as an affirmation, omitting 'So help me God.' The oath of allegiance pledges true allegiance to King Charles the Third, His Heirs and Successors, according to law, while the oath of office requires the officeholder to honor, uphold, and preserve the Constitution and the law, and to discharge duties impartially.
Reader's Guide
In Australia, all members of Parliament must take an Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance before the Governor-General, as set out in section 42 of the Australian Constitution. The oath swears faithfulness and true allegiance to King Charles the Third, while the affirmation omits 'So help me God.' The Governor-General takes both the Oath of Allegiance and a second Oath of Office. The Prime Minister, Ministers, and Parliamentary Secretaries also recite an Oath of Office, the wording of which is not prescribed in the Constitution and is determined by the Prime Minister; traditionally it repeats allegiance to the Sovereign. Federal Executive Council members take an oath to advise the Governor-General and not disclose confidential deliberations.
Did You Know?
- In Antigua and Barbuda, the oath of office includes a promise to 'do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.'
- In Australia, the Oath of Allegiance for members of Parliament is set out in a schedule to the Constitution.
- In Bangladesh, the oath of office for the President and Prime Minister is taken in the Bengali language.
- The oath of secrecy in Antigua and Barbuda prohibits disclosing any counsel, advice, opinion, or vote given by a Minister as a member of the Cabinet.
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