Petition to require all gov't officials to swear upon the Constitution, not the bible

[branford]

32. That's really not how the Constitution works or what it requires.

The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

As emphasized by centuries of jurisprudence, the amendment guarantees that government does not create a de jure or de facto state religion or discriminate against people because of their religion (or lack thereof) or prevent them from observing their religious beliefs (narrowly subject to other generally applicable laws).

However, contrary to what many believe or want, the amendment doesn't protect people from religion, mandate it be banished entirely from the public sphere, or generally prevent religious expression or belief of people employed by or dealing with the government.

No one is actually required to "swear" an oath (it may be "affirmed&quot , no less include "under God" or do so upon a Bible (or the Constitution). The fact that such options exist or even may be the "default," however, in no way renders them unlawful. In fact, under certain circumstances, preventing someone from swearing over a Bible when other options are available, may actually be unconstitutional.

You are certainly free to believe that the Bible should never be involved in any public act or ceremony, but that was certainly not the intent of the authors of the Constitution and Bill of Rights (which you want people to swear upon), how the relevant jurisprudence has evolved since our country's founding, nor reflect the will of the vast majority of American citizens.