God in the State Constitutions
The subject of God in the Constitution arises from time to time, and this
site deals with the topic specifically
elsewhere. However, another question also arises: how is God referenced, if at
all, in state constitutions?
This list is not guaranteed to be exhaustive, but it attempts to be. Using
the most recent version of each state’s constitution, these words were searched
for: God, Lord, Creator, Christ. Other variations were recorded when noted.
Each instance is noted below, alphabetically by state name. Copied portions are
excerpts only — only the sentence with the term in question is included.
Refer to the original document for context.
Content notes: When the usage of the word “Lord” is in the context of a
date, only the usage and the accompanying date is noted below. When the words
“so help me God” are in an oath of office, only the words “so help me God” are
noted below.
See also:
Alabama
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Alabama, in order to establish justice, insure
domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain
and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State
of Alabama:
Section 1:
That all men are equally free and independent; that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Section 186, witness oath:
“… so help me God.”
Section 279, oath of office:
“So help me God.”
Alaska
Preamble:
We the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our
nation and pioneered this great land, in order to secure and transmit to
succeeding generations our heritage of political, civil, and religious liberty
within the Union of States, do ordain and establish this constitution for the
State of Alaska.
Arizona
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our
liberties, do ordain this Constitution.
Arkansas
Preamble:
We, the People of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for
the privilege of choosing our own form of government; for our civil and
religious liberty; and desiring to perpetuate its blessings, and secure the
same to our selves and posterity; do ordain and establish this
Constitution.
Article 2, Section 24:
All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God
according to the dictates of their own consciences;
Article 19:
No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the
civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in
any Court.
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy four
…
California
Preamble:
We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for
our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this
Constitution.
Colorado
Preamble:
We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of
the Universe, in order to form a more independent and perfect government;
establish justice; insure tranquillity; provide for the common defense; promote
the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the “State of
Colorado”.
Article 5, Section 45:
… in the year of our Lord 1885 …
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six
…
Connecticut
Preamble:
The People of Connecticut acknowledging with gratitude, the good providence of
God, in having permitted them to enjoy a free government; do, in order
more effectually to define, secure, and perpetuate the liberties, rights and
privileges which they have derived from their ancestors; hereby, after a
careful consideration and revision, ordain and establish the following
constitution and form of civil government.
Article 11, Section 1, oath of office:
… So help you God.
Delaware
Preamble:
Through Divine goodness, all men have by nature the rights of worshiping
and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their
consciences, of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring and
protecting reputation and property, and in general of obtaining objects
suitable to their condition, without injury by one to another; and as these
rights are essential to their welfare, for due exercise thereof, power is
inherent in them; and therefore all just authority in the institutions of
political society is derived from the people, and established with their
consent, to advance their happiness; and they may for this end, as
circumstances require, from time to time, alter their Constitution of
government.
Article 1, Section 1:
Although it is the duty of all men frequently to assemble together for the
public worship of Almighty God; and piety and morality, on which the
prosperity of communities depends, are hereby promoted; yet no man shall or
ought to be compelled to attend any religious worship, to contribute to the
erection or support of any place of worship, or to the maintenance of any
ministry, against his own free will and consent;
Article 5, Section 2:
… in the year of our Lord, Nineteen Hundred …
Article 14, Section 1, oath of office:
“… so help me God.”
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-Seven
…
Florida
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God
for our constitutional liberty, in order to secure its benefits, perfect our
government, insure domestic tranquility, maintain public order, and guarantee
equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and establish this
constitution.
Article 2, Section 5, oath of office:
“So help me God.”
Georgia
Preamble:
To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all,
preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the
family, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we the people of
Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do
ordain and establish this Constitution.
Hawaii
Preamble:
We, the people of Hawaii, grateful for Divine Guidance, and mindful of
our Hawaiian heritage and uniqueness as an island State, dedicate our efforts
to fulfill the philosophy decreed by the Hawaii State motto, “Ua mau ke ea o ka
aina i ka pono.”
Article 7, Section 13:
Bonds issued by or on behalf of the State or by any political subdivision to
meet appropriations for any fiscal period in anticipation of the collection of
revenues for such period or to meet casual deficits or failures of revenue, if
required to be paid within one year, and bonds issued by or on behalf of the
State to suppress insurrection, to repel invasion, to defend the State in war
or to meet emergencies caused by disaster or act of God.
Idaho
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our
freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare do establish
this Constitution.
Illinois
Preamble:
We, the People of the State of Illinois — grateful to Almighty God
for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted us
to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon our endeavors — in order to
provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain a
representative and orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality; assure
legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the fullest
development of the individual; insure domestic tranquility; provide for the
common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselves
and our posterity — do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of
Illinois.
Indiana
Preamble:
TO THE END, that justice be established, public order maintained, and liberty
perpetuated; WE, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to ALMIGHTY
GOD for the free exercise of the right to choose our own form of
government, do ordain this Constitution.
Article 1, Section 1:
WE DECLARE, That all people are created equal; that they are endowed by their
CREATOR with certain inalienable rights;
Article 1, Section 2:
All people shall be secured in the natural right to worship ALMIGHTY
GOD, according to the dictates of their own consciences.
Iowa
Preamble:
WE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF IOWA, grateful to the Supreme Being for
the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a
continuation of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and independent
government, by the name of the State of Iowa, the boundaries whereof shall be
as follows:
Article 9, Part 2, Section 3:t 2, Section 3:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one
…
Kansas
Preamble:
We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and
religious privileges, in order to insure the full enjoyment of our rights as
American citizens, do ordain and establish this constitution of the state of
Kansas, with the following boundaries, to wit:
Bill of Rights, Section 7:
The right to worship God according to the dictates of conscience shall
never be infringed;
Kentucky
Preamble:
We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God
for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy, and invoking the
continuance of these blessings, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Section 1, Clause 2:
The right of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of their
consciences.
Section 228, oath of office:
… so help me God.
Section 232:
The manner of administering an oath or affirmation shall be such as is most
consistent with the conscience of the deponent, and shall be esteemed by the
General Assembly the most solemn appeal to God.
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one
…
Louisiana
Preamble:
We, the people of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil,
political, economic, and religious liberties we enjoy, and desiring to protect
individual rights to life, liberty, and property; afford opportunity for the
fullest development of the individual; assure equality of rights; promote the
health, safety, education, and welfare of the people; maintain a representative
and orderly government; ensure domestic tranquility; provide for the common
defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and justice to ourselves and our
posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution.
Article 10, Section 30, oath of office:
“… so help me God.”
Maine
Preamble:
We the people of Maine, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility,
provide for our mutual defense, promote our common welfare, and secure to
ourselves and our posterity the blessings of liberty, acknowledging with
grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in
affording us an opportunity, so favorable to the design; and, imploring
God‘s aid and direction in its accomplishment, do agree to form
ourselves into a free and independent State, by the style and title of the
State of Maine and do ordain and establish the following Constitution for the
government of the same.
Article 1, Section 3:
All individuals have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty
God according to the dictates of their own consciences, and no person shall
be hurt, molested or restrained in that person’s liberty or estate for
worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates
of that person’s own conscience, nor for that person’s religious professions or
sentiments, provided that that person does not disturb the public peace, nor
obstruct others in their religious worship;
Article 9, Section 1, oath of office
“So help me God.”
Article 9, Section 1, alternative oath of office
“So help me God.”
Maryland
Preamble:
We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for
our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the
best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure
foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:
Declaration of Rights, Article 36:
That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he
thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to
protection in their religious liberty; … nor shall any person, otherwise
competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness, or juror, on account of his
religious belief; provided, he believes in the existence of God, and
that under His dispensation such person will be held morally accountable
for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor either in this world or in
the world to come.
Nothing shall prohibit or require the making reference to belief in,
reliance upon, or invoking the aid of God or a Supreme Being in
any governmental or public document, proceeding, activity, ceremony, school,
institution, or place.
Declaration of Rights, Article 37:
That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any
office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in
the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath
of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.
Declaration of Rights, Article 39:
That the manner of administering an oath or affirmation to any person, ought to
be such as those of the religious persuasion, profession, or denomination, of
which he is a member, generally esteem the most effectual confirmation by the
attestation of the Divine Being.
Massachusetts
Preamble:
We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful
hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in
affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity,
deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence or surprise, of entering
into an original, explicit, and solemn compact with each other; and of forming
a new constitution of civil government, for ourselves and posterity; and
devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design, do agree
upon, ordain and establish the following Declaration of Rights, and Frame of
Government, as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Part 1, Article 2:
It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at
stated seasons to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and
Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or
restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in
the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience;
Chapter 5, Section 1, Article 1:
Whereas our wise and pious ancestors, so early as the year one thousand six
hundred and thirty-six, laid the foundation of Harvard College, in which
university many persons of great eminence have, by the blessing of God,
been initiated in those arts and sciences, which qualified them for public
employments, both in church and state: and whereas the encouragement of arts
and sciences, and all good literature, tends to the honor of God, the
advantage of the Christian religion, and the great benefit of this and the
other United States of America …
Chapter 6, Article 1:
“So help me, God.”
Chapter 6, Article 10:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five
…
Chapter 6, Article 12:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven
…
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-seven …
Amendments, Article 6, oath of office:
“So help me God.”
Amendments, Article 11:
As the public worship of God and instructions in piety, religion and
morality, promote the happiness and prosperity of a people and the security of
a republican government;
Michigan
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for
the blessings of freedom, and earnestly desiring to secure these blessings
undiminished to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
constitution.
Article 1, Section 4:
Every person shall be at liberty to worship God according to the
dictates of his own conscience.
Minnesota
Preamble:
We, the people of the state of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil
and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the
same to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution.
Article 1, Section 16:
The right of every man to worship God according to the dictates of his
own conscience shall never be infringed;
Mississippi
Preamble:
We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty
God, and invoking his blessing on our work, do ordain and establish
this constitution.
Article 4, Section 40, oath of office:
“So help me God.”
Article 6, Section 155, oath of office:
“So help me God.”
Article 14, Section 268, oath of office:
“So help me God.”
Missouri
Preamble:
We the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of
the Universe, and grateful for His goodness, do establish this
constitution for the better government of the state.
Article 1, Section 5:
That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty
God according to the dictates of their own consciences;
Montana
Preamble:
We the people of Montana grateful to God for the quiet beauty of our
state, the grandeur of our mountains, the vastness of our rolling plains, and
desiring to improve the quality of life, equality of opportunity and to secure
the blessings of liberty for this and future generations do ordain and
establish this constitution.
Article 3, Section 3, oath of office:
“… (so help me God).”
Nebraska
Preamble:
We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, do ordain and
establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government, as the
Constitution of the State of Nebraska.
Article 1, Section 4:
All persons have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty
God according to the dictates of their own consciences.
Nevada
Preamble:
We the people of the State of Nevada Grateful to Almighty God for our
freedom in order to secure its blessings, insure domestic tranquility, and form
a more perfect Government, do establish this Constitution.
Article 15, Section 2, oath of office:
… so help me God.
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Four
…
New Hampshire
Part 1, Article 5:
Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God
according to the dictates of his own conscience, and reason; and no subject
shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for
worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates
of his own conscience;
Part 2, Article 84, oath of office:
So help me God.
New Jersey
Preface:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and
forty-seven.
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for
the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to
enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure
and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain and
establish this Constitution.
Article 1, Section 3:
No person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshipping
Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own
conscience;
Article 8, Section 2:
Nor shall anything in this paragraph contained apply to the creation of any
debts or liabilities for purposes of war, or to repel invasion, or to suppress
insurrection or to meet an emergency caused by disaster or act of
God.
Article 10, Clause 5:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and
forty-eight.
New Mexico
Preamble:
We, the people of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings
of liberty, in order to secure the advantages of a state government, do ordain
and establish this constitution.
Article 2, Section 11:
Every man shall be free to worship God according to the dictates of his
own conscience, and no person shall ever be molested or denied any civil or
political right or privilege on account of his religious opinion or mode of
religious worship.
New York
Preamble:
We The People of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our
Freedom, in order to secure its blessings, DO ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION.
North Carolina
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God,
the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for the preservation of the American
Union and the existence of our civil, political and religious liberties, and
acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those
blessings to us and our posterity, do, for the more certain security thereof
and for the better government of this State, ordain and establish this
Constitution.
Article 1, Section 1:
We hold it to be self-evident that all persons are created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among
these are life, liberty, the enjoyment of the fruits of their own labor, and
the pursuit of happiness.
Article 1, Section 13:
All persons have a natural and inalienable right to worship Almighty God
according to the dictates of their own consciences, and no human authority
shall, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of
conscience.
Article 6, Section 7, oath of office:
“… so help me God.”
Article 6, Section 8:
The following persons shall be disqualified for office:
First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.
North Dakota
Preamble:
We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the
blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain and establish this
constitution.
Article 11, Section 4, oath of office:
“… so help me God.”
Ohio
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our
freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish
this Constitution.
Article 1, Section 7:
All men have a natural and indefensible right to worship Almighty God
according to the dictates of their own conscience.
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one
…
Oklahoma
Preamble:
Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate
the blessing of liberty; to secure just and rightful government; to promote our
mutual welfare and happiness, we, the people of the State of Oklahoma, do
ordain and establish this Constitution.
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seven …
Oregon
Article 1, Section 2:
All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God
according to the dictates of their own consciences.
Pennsylvania
Preamble:
WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty
God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking
His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Article 1, Section 3:
All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God
according to the dictates of their own consciences;
Article 1, Section 4:
No person who acknowledges the being of a God and a future state of
rewards and punishments shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be
disqualified to hold any office or place of trust or profit under this
Commonwealth.
Rhode Island
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which
He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a
blessing upon our endeavors to secure and to transmit the same, unimpaired, to
succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution of
government.
Article 1, Section 3:
Whereas Almighty God hath created the mind free; … and that every
person shall be free to worship God according to the dictates of such
person’s conscience, and to profess and by argument to maintain such person’s
opinion in matters of religion;
Article 3, Section 3, oath of office:
So help you God.
South Carolina
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled,
grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the preservation and perpetuation of the same.
Article 3, Section 26, oath of office:
“So help me God.”
Article 6, Section 5, oath of office:
“So help me God.”
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord, one thousand Eight hundred and
Ninety-five.
South Dakota
Preamble:
We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil
and religious liberties, in order to form a more perfect and independent
government, establish justice, insure tranquillity, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare and preserve to ourselves and to our
posterity the blessings of liberty, do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the state of South Dakota.
Article 3:
The right to worship God according to the dictates of conscience shall
never be infringed.
Article 21, Section 1:
Properly divided between the upper and lower edges of the circle shall appear
the legend, “Under God the People Rule” which shall be the motto of the
state of South Dakota.
Tennessee
Preamble:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six
…
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-three …
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-four …
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-five …
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine
…
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy
…
Article 1, Section 2:
That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty
God according to the dictates of their own conscience;
Article 9, Section 1:
Whereas ministers of the Gospel are by their profession, dedicated to
God and the care of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great
duties of their functions; therefore, no minister of the Gospel, or priest of
any denomination whatever, shall be eligible to a seat in either House of the
Legislature.
Article 9, Section 2:
No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and
punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state.
Texas
Preamble:
Humbly invoking the blessings of Almighty God, the people of the State
of Texas, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Article 1, Section 6:
All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God
according to the dictates of their own consciences.
Article 16, Section 1, oath of office:
“… so help me God.”
Utah
Preamble:
Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we, the people of Utah,
in order to secure and perpetuate the principles of free government, do ordain
and establish this CONSTITUTION.
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five
…
Vermont
Chapter 1, Article 3:
That all persons have a natural and unalienable right, to worship Almighty
God, according to the dictates of their own consciences and understandings,
as in their opinion shall be regulated by the word of God; …
Nevertheless, every sect or denomination of Christians ought to observe the
sabbath or Lord‘s day, and keep up some sort of religious worship, which
to them shall seem most agreeable to the revealed will of God.
Article 2, Section 16, oath of office:
So help you God.
Article 2, Section 17, oath of office:
So help you God.
Article 2, Section 56, oath of office:
So help you God.
Virginia
Article 1, Section 17:
That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of
discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or
violence;
Article 2, Section 7, oath of office:
“… (so help me God).”
Washington
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of
the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this constitution.
West Virginia
Preamble:
Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil,
political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia, in and
through the provisions of this Constitution, reaffirm our faith in and constant
reliance upon God and seek diligently to promote, preserve and
perpetuate good government in the state of West Virginia for the common
welfare, freedom and security of ourselves and our posterity.
Wisconsin
Preamble:
We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom,
in order to secure its blessings, form a more perfect government, insure
domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare, do establish this
constitution.
Article 1, Section 18:
The right of every person to worship Almighty God according to the
dictates of conscience shall never be infringed;
Wyoming
Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil,
political and religious liberties, and desiring to secure them to ourselves and
perpetuate them to our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution.
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
eighty-nine.
American Samoa
Article 5, Section 6, oath of office:
So help me God.
Guam – Organic Act
Subchapter 3, Section 1423d, oath of office:
I solemnly swear (or affirm) in the presence of Almighty God that I will
well and faithfully support the Constitution of the United States…
Terminus:
… in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-five …
Puerto Rico
Preamble:
We, the people of Puerto Rico, in order to organize ourselves politically on a
fully democratic basis, to promote the general welfare, and to secure for
ourselves and our posterity the complete enjoyment of human rights, placing our
trust in Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
commonwealth which, in the exercise of our natural rights, we now create within
our union with the United States of America.
Terminus:
… in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-two.
U.S. Virgin Islands – Organic Act
No mention.
The above excerpts illustrate some interesting points:
- In almost all cases, states mention God in the preambles to their
constitutions. Only a few do not. New Hampshire, Vermont, and Virginia do not
have preambles. Tennessee’s only mentions “Lord” in the context of dates.
Oregon’s preamble is decidedly neutral. - The use of the term “in the year of our Lord” is very common.
- Many states mention God in sections that refer to religious freedom,
but many of those refer to “Almighty God,” which, by all objective standards,
is an endorsement of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic deity (several of the
religious freedom sections mention Christianity specifically). - A handful of states have provisions that deny elective office to anyone
who does not believe in God. Some also prohibit non-believers from serving as
witnesses in trials. These provisions are probably not enforceable. See Specific Denials for more detail. - The oaths of office codified in the various constitutions often include
the closing statement, “So help me God.” Several states allow an alternate
statement such as “Under the pains and penalties of perjury.” Several do not
allow an alternate closing, and several have no such closing whatever.
It may surprise you (or perhaps not) to learn that some state constitutions
specifically deny certain civil privileges to non-believers. As mentioned in
the notes above, the restrictions include both denial to hold office and denial
to serve as a witness in a trial. The ability of the state to deny elected
office to a non-believer, be that person an atheist, agnostic, Humanist,
Buddhist, Hindu, or any number of non-Abrahamic religions, is questionable from
a national constitutional aspect. The point may be moot, however — for a
non-believer to have a case against a state, he would have to be denied the
ability to appear on the ballot, or be denied the office once having been
elected. In some of these states, because of the religious demographics, it
is entirely likely that a non-believer would have a hard time getting on a
ballot, let alone elected, in the first place.
The inability of a non-believer to be a witness in a trial, however, is
something that could happen on any particular day and could have a meaningful
effect on an ongoing trial. If a witness is not allowed to testify because her
testimony is irrelevant, the witness is incompetent, or the testimony could be
prejudicial, then there are solid, legal reasons to disallow the testimony. If
a witness is rejected solely based on her disbelief in a specific deity, the
side attempting to call the witness would be quite right to challenge the state
constitution on 1st Amendment grounds.
By drawing attention to the state constitution provisions listed below, the
desire is that they will be seen as unnecessary and discriminatory, and either
challenged under the federal constitution or repealed.
(Thanks to Mike Newdow for providing a fuller list than I had previously
published. If you know of any similar state constitution provisions that are
missing from this list, please email the
Webmaster.)
Arkansas
Article 19, Section 1 (Denial of Office, Denial as Witness):
No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil
departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any
Court.
Maryland
Article 36 (Denial as Witness):
…nor shall any person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a
witness, or juror, on account of his religious belief; provided, he believes in
the existence of God, and that under His dispensation such person will be held
morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor either
in this world or in the world to come.
Article 37 (Denial of Office):
That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any
office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in
the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of
office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.
Mississippi
Article 14, Section 265 (Denial of Office):
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in
this state.
North Carolina
Article 6, Section 8 (Denial of Office):
The following persons shall be disqualified for office:
First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.
Pennsylvania
Article 1, Section 4 (Denial of Office):
No person who acknowledges the being of a God and a future state of rewards and
punishments shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified to
hold any office or place of trust or profit under this Commonwealth.
(This section specifies that someone who acknowledges God cannot be denied
office; conversely, anyone who does deny God can be, rather than
shall be, denied office. The restriction is not as concrete as other
denials of office.)
South Carolina
Article 6, Section 2 (Denial of Office):
No person who denies the existence of the Supreme Being shall hold any office
under this Constitution.
Tennessee
Article 9, Section 2 (Denial of Office):
No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and
punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state.
(Note that Article 9, Section 1 denies office to any “minister of the
Gospel, or priest of any denomination.”)
Texas
Article 1, Section 4 (Denial of Office):
No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or
public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office
on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence
of a Supreme Being.