U.S. Constitution · Article VI, Clause 3
Oaths Clause; No Religious Test Clause
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Also known as: Oaths Clause · No Religious Test Clause
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The text
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
National Archives transcription (public domain; original spelling and capitalization). archives.gov
SI explainer
An explainer for this provision is in the queue. It appears here once it passes the SI Editorial Standard’s automated checks. The text, founding-era sources and live citations below are complete.
In the founders’ words
- “It has been asked why it was thought necessary, that the State magistracy should be bound to support the federal Constitution, and unnecessary that a like oath should be imposed on the officers of the United States, in favor of the State constitutions.” James Madison, The Federalist No. 44 (1788-01-25)
- “Mr. PINKNEY moved to add to the art: -"but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the authority of the U. States" Mr. SHERMAN thought it unnecessary, the prevailing liberality being a sufficient security agst. such tests.” James Madison, Madison's Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention, August 30, 1787 (1787-08-30)
- “however, there were some members so unfashionable as to think that a belief of the existence of a Deity, and of a state of future rewards and punishments would be some security for the good conduct of our rulers, and that in a Christian country it would be at least decent to hold out some distinction between the professors of Christianity and downright infidelity or paganism.” Luther Martin, Luther Martin, The Genuine Information, published serially Dec. 1787-Feb. 1788 (on religious tests) (1787-12-28)
Public-domain primary sources, quoted word for word and checked against the linked text.
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Cite this page
Values for America Constitution Explorer, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution (text: National Archives transcription, public domain), Article VI, Clause 3, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution/article-6/clause-3
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