Article 2, Section 1, Clause 8 — Faithful Execution Of The Office

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Article II, Section 1, Clause 8:

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:– 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.

The oath’s requirement that the President swear or affirm to “faithfully execute the Office” of President bears close relation to the President’s constitutional duty to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” [1](https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/article-2/section-1/clause-8/faithful-execution-of-the-office#fn1art2 " U.S. Const. art. II, § 3. ") Other provisions of the Constitution require action of various officials, but these two clauses comprise the only requirements that an official act faithfully. Because of these textual similarities, the oath is often discussed in conjunction with the Take Care Clause.[2](https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/article-2/section-1/clause-8/faithful-execution-of-the-office#fn2art2 " See generally , and subsequent essays. ")

Footnotes

1

U.S. Const. art. II , § 3.

2

See generally , and subsequent essays.