Each member of Congress takes an Oath of office. Let us, We the People, commit to hold them to it.

Paragraph three of Article VI of the Constitution of the United States of America states in part:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned . . . shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

There have been several updates of the original oath taken by members. This current oath was enacted in 1884. As the 112 Congress begins, each member of the House of Representatives and the Senate (except the holdover classes of Senators) will take this oath:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

These are serious words. Read them again. No, please study the words of this oath carefully. Isn’t this the perfect first standard for every vote and every official act of every member of Congress? I submit we should and can hold this standard. The question is, will we? Let us commit today to this standard of measure and to each of us inform each member of the House and each Senator of our plan. Let each of us reach out to Tea Parties and other similar organizations to join us.