Baldur

As for people of nonChristian faiths being elected President, it would be curious to see how the law would adapt.
that not that long ago a female could not have been legally elected. In the most recent election the possibility of Hillary Clinton being elected was a good possibility early on.
Joe Lieberman was Al Gore's running mate in the 2000 elections. Had Gore 'officially' won the election that would have given the US it's first Jewish Vice President. So the concept of a nonChristian President is not completely out of the realm of possibility.

Baldur

-that

five

Franklin Pierce affirmed (rather than swore), using a book of law; John Quincy Adams took the oath on a book of law rather than the bible. And apparently, Teddy Roosevelt did not swear on the Bible either.

For other offices, where the oath/affirmation is prescribed by law rather than by the constitution, there is a choice between swearing the oath or affirming the oath of office; affirming is not done on the bible.

polenta

Five, as always you seem to know lots about law. Then it would be he doesn't put his hands anywhere by law but because of custom. Stating or affirming and saying the oath would be enough. I wonder if they do it here on the Constitution also as part of custom and not something that MUST be done.

five

Yes, it's out of custom, and the custom is pretty ingrained. Almost all of them have sworn on the bible (some even swore on two bibles). It was trickier for the other offices, such as the Senate, because the constitution calls for swearing to uphold the constitution in their case but. (unlike in the case of the president) does not provide exact words. As a consequence, and because oaths traditionally invoked God, these oaths of office do include "so help me god" in the statutory wording of the oath; in practice, they can affirm rather than swear, but I'd guess most of them just swear the oath. I believe a few states actually have requirements in their state constitutions for oaths of office, e.g. for governor, etc., that call for swearing in the name of God, but "religious" requirements to hold office are unconstitutional under the federal constitution, which trumps the states. There undoubtedly are also city and county government oaths that include "so help me God," as well.

maddyjean08

I always thought the phrase 'so help me God' was a form of swearing.

five

It is, Maddy. One of the reasons given for the Constitution giving the president the option to "affirm" rather than to swear is because the Quaker belief that "swearing" to God, even in an oath, is not proper.

polenta

The word SWEAR in English is kind of wierd for Spanish speakers. When I first studied it, it was with the meaning of PROMISE SOLEMNLY. Later on, when I understood it also meant to SAY DIRTY WORDS, I was amazed. It's like having two opposite meanings.

five

Polenta, maybe that's because both from use God's name ... use it in vain and to swear is to cuss, use it solemnly and to swear is to promise or attest under God's eyes.

Login

Isn't the English language crazy! There are several words with different meanings but the same spelling:
bow (as in a tied ribbon) + (as when bending at the waist and lowering ones head in deference) + (as used to shoot an arrow)
saw (as the past tense of to see) + (as used to cut wood).
Then there are dozens of words that sound the same but are spelled differntly:
beech + beach
see + sea
some + sum
know + no
bough + bow
rough + ruff ... etcetera.

Is it the craziest language?

Dragon

Don't forget the bow of a ship also.

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Thanks Dragon ... it IS crazy.

polenta

Some words are difficult to translate. There is a word in Spanish : SIMPATICO. I haven't found a word in English that means the same. We say NICE but it's not the same. And sympathetic has nothing to do in fact. When I say that in English we use SYMPATHY when somebody dies.... they look at me surprised. Some words that look alike might be sort of dangerous!!!!

polenta

I think the word BEEN and the word BIN have the same pronunciation.... but it's strange because the EE is usually different like TEEN and TIN

Arw65

I think the closest thing to Simpatico is Kind... which isn't all that close... Kind is closer to Clase I think, however it has been a very long time since have taken Spanish

five

Hmmm, I think of "simpatico" as agreeable or in agreement or like-minded.

matthew

I am going to sleep or I would look it up, but there is a verse in the bible stating that you should not swear an oath...

And yes, the bible and the so help me God are optional...

maddyjean08

Ok, I guess I will never swear an oath. I must not of read that, I'm only like to page 55 in my Bible.

puzzler

Polenta, the word 'been' should be correctly ponounced the same as 'teen', but in some local accents, and with the younger generation, it is often pronounced as bin. I might say, "Where have you been?" But a sloppier use of the language leads to, "Where have you bin?

polenta

thanks everybody. It's so good to have you all.
I looked up LIKE-MINDED and it says:having similar tastes and opinions. SIMPATICO is not that. Simpático is someone who is friendly and is warm and a little bit extroverted and smiles and tries to make you feel well.
Kind, gentle, agreeable could be better I think but the word I use is NICE although- as they say- NICE means so many things that it means nothing after all.