Posted by Robert/FL on 5/13/10 8:29am
Msg #336218

Swearing in public officials or employees

My place of employment is close to a state legislator, and whenever their office gets a new employee they require "Oaths of Loyalty" to be signed and sworn to before a notary public. I did one this morning which got me wondering how others "swear in" public officials/employees?

The oath form is as follows:

"I, _____, a citizen of the State of Florida and of the United States of America, and being employed by or an officer of _____ and a recipient of public funds as such employee or officer, do hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Florida. "

Instead of doing the same old "Do you swear that the contents of this document are true and correct?", I literally read the oath out loud as follows:

"Do you swear that you are a citizen of the State of Florida and of the United States of America, and that you are employed by or an officer of the State of Florida and a receipient of public funds as such employee or officer, and do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Florida?"

I think they like that - it makes them feel like they are doing something important by being sworn in like that. To be honest I am not sure whether or not this is required to make it legal; I assume that the standard oath is legally sufficient but wanted to hear others' comments.

Reply by Robert/FL on 5/13/10 8:48am
Msg #336220

And no I don't req. a raised right hand BTW n/m

Reply by John/CT on 5/13/10 8:51am
Msg #336222

In Connecticut, yes. n/m

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/13/10 12:38pm
Msg #336272

Re: And no I don't req. a raised right hand BTW...why not?? n/m

Reply by Robert/FL on 5/13/10 1:07pm
Msg #336297

Maybe to swear in a public officer, yes, but not for

'swearing in' a state employee such as a legislative assistant.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/13/10 2:35pm
Msg #336351

Re: Maybe to swear in a public officer, yes, but not for

Why not? Where do you make the distinction between the two? And by what or whose authority? If you're swearing them in you're swearing them in...period.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/13/10 3:25pm
Msg #336367

BTW, I just went back and read you original post

That office requires new employees to take "Oaths of Loyalty"

Oath? Raise right hand and wear to do it....

MHO

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/13/10 3:28pm
Msg #336368

Good grief I need a nap....

*youR* original post...and

*Swear* to it...

Nighty night.

Reply by parkerc/ME on 5/13/10 12:50pm
Msg #336277

Re: And no I don't req. a raised right hand BTW

While I usually don't require a raised right hand when I give an oath for routine notarizations (not a requirement here), I would definitely require a raised right hand when swearing someone into office.

Reply by John/CT on 5/13/10 8:50am
Msg #336221

Happens to me every five years upon renewal of my commission: "You do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Connecticut and will faithfully discharge, according to law, the duties of the office of notary public to the3 best of your abilities. So help you God."

Reply by Robert/FL on 5/13/10 8:51am
Msg #336223

I was talking about US swearing on OTHER officials n/m

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 5/13/10 9:28am
Msg #336229

I do swear ins for deps all the time...the only diff from

you've written is the part of the public office, bla bla...
-----------------
...do you solemnly swear (or affirm - used if no mention of God is preferred by the deponet) that the testimony you are about to give is true and correct to the best of your knowledge, so help you God.

I've not sworn in any public officials yet, AND the one public official I had a chance to swear in, (election) had I been available, is now our president....

Reply by Ernest__CT on 5/13/10 2:00pm
Msg #336339

Swearing: CT law

"The person taking the oath holds up his right hand and the notary administers the oath."

That's only Connecticut law, of course, directly from Section 4.8 of the Notary Public Manual.