What were the cultural or social implications of oathing and perjury? Also,
Silving’s analysis fails to provide an understanding of the oathing continuities and
breaks over time and the rationale behind these changes. Silving’s interpretation
of oathing was unable to show the inner structures and meaning that lead to its
current developed state.
The United States has a long history and practice of taking oaths. Upon
the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620, the Pilgrims took an oath to pledge their
allegiance to King James through the Mayflower Compact. This was not only an
oath to the King but to one another as it provided the foundation on which they
would live together in this new land. Their constitution provided order to their
infant society. Therefore, the practice of taking oaths was brought with them
from Europe. Oathing, over time, has maintained a role and place in the United
States government.
According to Kenneth Keskel, the very first law enacted in the United
States by the founding fathers on June 1, 1789 was “statute 1, chapter 1: an act
to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths.”10 This law
established the need of all government officials of the United States to make an
oath of allegiance to the United States Constitution upon taking their new offices
and positions. These oaths, though differently worded, remain today. In addition
to government officials, oaths are also taken by regular American citizens,
including new citizens who take a naturalization oath and school children who
make an oath to the United States flag each school day.
10 Kenneth Keskel, “The Oath of Office,” Air & Space Power Journal, (Nov. 2002): 1-14.
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