Sunday, October 5, 2008

Is of Good Character a must for being President

Although no religious test shall ever be required as qualification to any office or public trust under the United States {U.S. Constitution, Article VI), there is clear expectation all who are elected or appointed to office are bound by Oath or Affirmation to support the Constitution {U.S. Constitution, Article VI); However, the U.S. Constitution contains an oath of office only for the president

ArticleI I, Section I states any person before entering office of President, shall take the following oath or affirmation “I do solemnly swear )or affirm) that I will faithful execute the Office of President of the United States, and will do so to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Contrition of the United States.

In 1789, the First Congress reworked this requirement into a simple fourteen-word oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States." On July 2, 1862 Congress put into law an oath for every person elected or appointed to any office ... under the Government of the United States ... excepting the President of the United States" to swear or affirm that they had never previously engaged in criminal or disloyal conduct.

In 1844 Congress repealed the requirement in the oath pertinent affirming the never previously engaged in criminal or disloyal conduct prior to taking office. Here again an exception should be noted. Although not in the oath TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES Subtitle A--General Military Law PART II—PERSONNEL, CHAPTER 33--ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS OF REGULAR OFFICERS IN GRADES ABOVE WARRANT OFFICER GRADES, Sec. 532. Qualifications for original appointment as a commissioned officer distinctly and clearly identifies “is of good moral character” as one of five requirements for appointment to the government office and duties of military commission.

Considering the President of the United States appoints all individuals holding a military commission it follows the person doing the appointing be of goo character. Considering the Office of President is the only office having a specific oath or affirmation to the Constitution identified ion the Constitution this gives indication of all elected and appointed offices of government, this is the one office voters should have the most vigilance to ensure they are voting into office a person being of good character.

One needs only to read the Federalist Papers and other document authored by the writers of the U.S. Constitution to understand they believed being of good character was an essential eligibility requirement to hold elected and appointed office.

Consequently being of good character is relevant and critical qualification pertinent to fitness to hold and perform duties of President of the United States.

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