Loyalty Oaths: What the Hell

[IGTN]

So I'm going through the paperwork packet I was sent to get some paid research at the university I study at, and I came across a page headed "Public Employee or Officer Loyalty Oath." It has the full text of a law, and a loyalty oath on it, that I apparently have to sign if I want to get paid.

The oath goes

I, (type or print name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of Arizona, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and defend them against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that I will faithfully andd impartially discharge the duties of the office of (name of office) according to the best of my ability, so help me God (or so do I affirm).

They're seriously calling for a militaristic loyalty oath for a $10/hour job breaking spiderwebs. I have to swear to defend the Constitution against all enemies before I can get paid for doing academic research. Of course, the text of the law explicitly spells out what the oath means legally (committing terrorism after having sworn it is a felony, and I will get fired if I am convicted of it. I am not making that up).

What is wrong with this place?

[Surgo]

Is it a public university?

[IGTN]

Is it a public university?

Yes, it is. The law about it says that the loyalty oath is required for anyone on remotely public payroll (in excruciatingly specific terms).

[Crissa]

That's why I don't want to move to Arizona.

-Crissa

[Draco_Argentum]

committing terrorism after having sworn it is a felony, and I will get fired if I am convicted of it. I am not making that up).

Getting fired would be my main worry. o.O

[Crissa]

Isn't terrorism normally a felony?

-Crissa

[Sir Neil]

Yup.

[Absentminded_Wizard]

So basically it's a meaningless oath with no consequences for breaking it that you wouldn't face anyway? Then why is it such a big deal?

[Count Arioch the 28th]

the US government uses the "Word is my Bond" definition of Lawful?

[CatharzGodfoot]

The purpose is to keep people who are unwilling to take such an oath from having a job, and to have something to point to when people do do bad things.

[Josh_Kablack]

Well if you want to make a big deal about it, convert to Christianity and get the ACLU to point out that oaths are in direct violation of what you believe to be the sacred commandment of your Lord Jesus, and therefore requiring you to take one infringes upon your First Amendment Rights as a citizen of the United States, ergo any duty to uphold the Oath requires you to treat the people requiring the Oath as enemies of the Constitution.

Relevant References:

33 "Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.'
34
But I say to you, do not swear at all; 23 not by heaven, for it is God's throne;
35
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36
Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
37
Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

But that's at best a way to trade a job prospect for a bunch of crazy media spin.

[Absentminded_Wizard]

The oath allows you to "affirm" instead of swear, which is usually interpreted as voiding that complaint.