by Stephen A. Wait ~ 11th of October, 2025
Perhaps rhetorical in nature; what is the recourse for our self-governing sovereignty when expectations are not met?
To that point, consider the following:
The Oaths or Affirmations pursuant to the Constitution for the United States of America
~ The Executive ~
Ref. Clause 8, Section. 1 of Article. II.
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 Legislative, Executive, and Judicial ~
Ref. Clause 3 of Article. VI.
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.
The Oath or Affirmation for the Legislative branch and the Vice President of the Executive branch, is prescribed in 5 U.S. Code § 3331 : An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: “I, ___, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
The Oath or Affirmation for the Judicial branch, is prescribed in 28 U.S. Code § 453 : Each justice or judge of the United States shall take the following oath or affirmation before performing the duties of his office: “I, ___ ___, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as ___ under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God.”
In the preceding, a pledge of loyalty to the Constitution is immutable only for those of honor and integrity. And in the succeeding, fidelity to constitutionality is found to be obligatory of the same.
The Supremacy Clause pursuant to the Constitution for the United States of America
Ref. Clause 2 of Article. VI.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
~
Together, these provisions demand of the Official their binding devotion to our foundational principles. It is the ceaseless pursuit of constitutionality, one where disingenuous legislation is rejected, that fulfills these provisions. And here, the prosecution of accountability for those Officials is reserved by the Citizenry. Yet, the judicious exercise of such authority necessitates a responsibility of its own. The Citizenry is therefore equally compelled in their examination of the Constitution. It becomes then the Citizenry’s recognition of the Constitution not as the exclusive domain of Government itself that is consequentially decisive. By our own objective comprehension of the Constitution’s plain text, the limitations of governance are thus delineated for all to evaluate. As such, the prerogative of the People to adjudicate an Official’s tenure is indeed the epitome of a self-governing society.
As an experiment in governance, ours is not perfect. But if yours is that expectation, then any honest interaction with governments abroad will impress upon you our proximity to that fulfillment. “We the People…”; these words alone, consummately declarative, are America’s great distinction.
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