All Federal employees take oath to defend Constitution
Published Dominion Post, Dec. 29, 2024. Reprinted with permission.
“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.”
If you’ve never been employed by the Federal government, you may think this is the oath taken by an elected official. It is not. This oath is taken by every federal employee, regardless of their job. From clerks to IT professionals to regulators to scientists to managers, they all take the same oath to support and defend the Constitution.
This fact is being lost. Rather than just being a symptom of today’s flood of misinformation, the misunderstanding and mischaracterization of federal public servants’ allegiance to the Constitution have been happening for decades. For years, politicians have attempted—often successfully—to tarnish the reputations and expertise of public servants.
Frequently, privatization of government functions is offered as the panacea. The League of Women Voters believes that services fundamental to the governance of a democratic society should remain within the public sector. Such services include the electoral process, military, public safety, public health, education, transportation, environmental protection and programs that protect and provide basic human needs. In essence, the delivery of public goods should not be entirely privatized.
Why is this important? The first comprehensive merit-based civil service system, the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, was signed into law by President Chester Arthur in 1883. It required merit to be the basis of government hiring decisions. Before that, under the spoils system (patronage), government jobs were rewards granted by electoral winners to supporters, friends and relatives, regardless of qualifications. The spoils system effectively politicized government service.
The civil service was designed to depoliticize government. But it had other goals, too, including order and efficiency. Hiring based on qualifications also has led to a more diverse, stable and well-trained workforce.
To further insulate the federal service from politics, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Hatch Act in 1939. It prohibited coercing voters in federal elections and executive branch employees and officials from actively participating in politics. Federal employees continue to be constrained by the Hatch Act today, and reminders about its prohibitions are typically distributed during election years. Coincidentally, the Hatch Act’s principles are also good guidance for maintaining the League’s nonpartisan approach to public policy.
This seems like a good time to publish this reminder.
I especially like the part about God I thought we had separation of church and state what does God have to do with swearing to be honest and to uphold the Constitution which nobody is doing. If you're Christian it means that you can if you swear to God break the rule because it's a human Rule and not a god rule so God doesn't care anyways and then all you have to do is say you're sorry and All Is Forgiven right isn't that the Christian way I would like to hear people swear on their own name then we might get some real truth from people because if you don't back up your words with true actions then the world will know that right?