Oath of Office of the US President: "Bible or no bible?"

If, by convention, US Presidents tend to use a Bible when taking the Oath, there is no requirement to do so according to the US Constitution.


Article VI of the US Constitution states:

"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."

For instance, at his inauguration in 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt, chose not to use a Bible.


Article II, Section 1, Clause 8 of the US Constitution specifies the wording of the Oath or Affirmation that the President of the US must take before he/she begins the execution of the Office: 

"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."



For more information on this topic, please click on the link below:

Library of Congress blog: Oath of Office