Posted on 07/16/2012 1:41:17 PM PDT by Blueflag
I am curious, perhaps concerned to know what if any oath the "officers" employed by DHS (Homeland Security) swear.
I can readily read what our military enlisted and officer corps recite when they swear in. I can also read the same for the President.
But to WHAT or WHOM do the 'officers' of DHS owe their loyalty and duty?
I can readily read what our military enlisted and officer corps recite when they swear in. I can also read the same for the President.
But to WHAT or WHOM do the 'officers' of DHS owe their loyalty and duty?
Anyone know?
I did crawl around the DHS site a bit.
They just chant in unison, “O-ba-ma, O-ba-ma...”
In a flip sort of way, that is my concern.
DO they swear an oath to preserve and defend etc.? Or just to obey?
Federal Employee Oath of Office
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.
I swear: I will be faithful and obedient to the leader of the Democratic Party and the Chicago way, Barrack Obama, Peace be upon him, to observe his law, and to conscientiously fulfill
my official duties, so help me God!
Presuming you are correct, that is good news.
Federal Employee Oath of Office
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.
As Federal civil servants, we take an oath of office by which we swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. The Constitution not only establishes our system of government, it actually defines the work role for Federal employees - “to establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.”
The history of the Oath for Federal employees can be traced to the Constitution, where Article II includes the specific oath the President takes - to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Article VI requires an oath by all other government officials from all three branches, the military, and the States. It simply states that they “shall be bound by oath of affirmation to support the Constitution.” The very first law passed by the very first Congress implemented Article VI by setting out this simple oath in law: “I do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States.”
The wording we use today as Executive Branch employees is now set out in chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code. The wording dates to the Civil War and what was called the Ironclad Test Oath. Starting in 1862, Congress required a two-part oath. The first part, referred to as a “background check,” affirmed that you were not supporting and had not supported the Confederacy. The second part addressed future performance, that is, what you would swear to do in the future. It established a clear, publicly sworn accountability. In 1873, Congress dropped the first part of the Ironclad Test Oath, and in 1884 adopted the wording we use today.
Outstanding news, really. We are still nominally a nation of laws, not people or judges.
Many thanks. My brother is a Federal employee, but is also former military. He wasn’t sure either ;-)
From the DHS website:
Oath of Office
5 U.S.C. § 3331
An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath:
I, AB [state your name], 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 section does not affect other oaths required by law.
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