The Presidential Oath of Office
Lesson Components
The Presidential Oath of OfficeOverview
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Students investigate the presidential Oath of Office in Article II of the Constitution.
Objectives
- Investigate the roles of the president as explained by the Oath of Office in Article II, Section 1, Clause 8.
- Explain the purpose of the Oath of Office.
Resources
Engage
- Ask students, “What does it mean to swear an oath? Have you ever done this, or can you think of an example from a book or movie where someone swears an oath?”
- Think, Turn, Talk: Have students share their responses with a partner or small group. If students struggle to think of examples, provide any of the following:
- Military oath taken upon entering service in the military
- Oath of office taken upon entering a job that focuses on public service (police, judge, politician)
- Boy Scout or Girl Scout oath
- Oath of Allegiance taken in a naturalization ceremony
- Ask, “What makes an oath meaningful or significant? Is an oath more important than a promise?”
- Guide students to the idea that an oath is a solemn promise rooted in history about a serious undertaking.
Explore
- Distribute the Presidential Oath of Office primary source handout.
- Students read the oath individually. Have students identify the actions the president-elect is promising to take (“will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend”) by underlining the text. Then have students identify to whom or what they are making that promise (“the Constitution of the United States.”)
Assess and Reflect
- Have students complete the questions in the Presidential Oath of Office handout.
- Alternatively, use the questions to set up conversation stations.
- Divide students into small groups (4–6 students per group).
- Assign each group question number one to discuss.
- Give the groups enough time to discuss the question and develop their conversation.
- Select one or two students from each group to rotate to a different group.
- The remaining group members stay in their original groups.
- In their new groups, students discuss a different but related question, question two.
- They may share key points from their previous group’s conversation.
- For the next rotation, choose students who haven’t rotated before to move — this keeps the groups continually evolving.
- Continue until all questions are used.
Extend
- Have students research other examples of oaths to explain their history and importance in the present day. Examples may include:
- Military oath taken upon entering service in the military
- Oath of office taken upon entering a job that focuses on public service (police, judge, politician)
- Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts oath
- Oath of Allegiance taken in a naturalization ceremony
- Pretend you are a news reporter covering a presidential inauguration. How would you explain the Oath of Office to your viewers?
Student Handouts
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