Editor’s note: This article is part of a series answering your biggest religious questions. Each week, we will answer one submitted faith question. To send a submission, visit timesfreepress.com/religionquestions or email wmassey@timesfreepress.com.
Question: Why do politicians take the oath of office on a religious book? Shouldn’t it be on something like the U.S. Constitution?
In one word, tradition.
The U.S. Constitution provides very little direction for the oath of office ceremony for elected officials. States can create their own rules, but the directive to the president is outlined in Article II of the Constitution. The oath the president must recite reads, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
That is all the directive that is given for the oath of office ceremony. Everything else that has been used in the dozens of presidential ceremonies leans on precedent, said Rob Boston, senior adviser at Americans United for Separation of Church and State.