The Senate takes an oath or affirmation during impeachment trials to ensure that senators uphold their duties with integrity and impartiality. This solemn commitment emphasizes the seriousness of the proceedings, as impeachment is a constitutional process that can remove a sitting president or other officials from office. The oath reinforces the senators' obligation to act fairly and based on the evidence presented, maintaining the integrity of the judicial process within the legislative branch.
According to Article I, Section 3, Clause 6 (Trial of Impeachments) the Senate conducts the impeachment trial with the Chief Justice presiding:"The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present."For more information, see Related Questions, below.
testimony, oath, affirmation
When you make an affirmation you are giving your word that what you say is true. Affirmations can be used in place of an oath for people who oppose taking an oath for religious reasons.
The Senate has the sole power to hold the trial
Article I, Section 3, Clause 6 (Trial of Impeachments) addresses the authority of the Senate in impeachment trials:"The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present."For more information, see Related Questions, below.
An oath is a solemn promise made with a reference to a higher power, such as a deity, while an affirmation is a solemn promise made without any religious reference.
An affirmation is a solemn declaration that does not involve invoking a deity, while an oath is a solemn promise or pledge that often includes invoking a deity or swearing on something sacred.
Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution of the United States of America:The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present. The House of Representatives reserves the sole power to impeach members of the House.
Here's some synonyms of the word 'oath': word. promise. pledge. vow. deposition. affidavit. affirmation. declaration.
The US Constitution gives this choice of wording in the required oath of office.
The Chief Justice. The impeachment process is discussed in Article 1, Section 3, Clause 6: "The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present."
An oath or affirmation made before a notary public affirming that the content of an instrument is true is called a "jurat." This process involves the notary verifying the identity of the signer and witnessing the signing of the document, thereby certifying that the oath or affirmation was made in their presence. The notary then completes the jurat by adding their signature and seal to the document.