Last

Amend.

Title

Code

Reference to "God"

1. Education Strengthening and

Improvement of
Elementary and
Secondary Schools: "Boy
Scouts of America Equal
Access Act"

20 USC
Sec.
7905

Jan. 8,
2002

"(b)(1) Equal Access - Notwithstanding any other

provision of law, no public elementary school, public
secondary school, local educational agency, or State
educational agency that has a designated open
forum or a limited public forum and that receives
funds made available through the Department shall
deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or
discriminate against, any group officially affiliated with
the Boy Scouts of America, or any other youth group
listed in title 36 (as a patriotic society), that wishes to
conduct a meeting within that designated open forum
or limited public forum, including denying such
access or opportunity or discriminating for reasons
based on the membership or leadership criteria or
oath of allegiance to God and country..."

2. Armed Forces: Rules

of Court of Appeals for
the Armed Forces Qualifications to
Practices

10 USC
Append.

Oct. 22,
2001

"(e) Each applicant shall take or subscribe the

following oath or affirmation:
'I ***, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support
the Constitution of the United States, and that I will
conduct myself, as an attorney and counselor of this
Court, uprightly and according to law. So help me
God.'"

3. Money and Finance:

Coins and Currency

31 USC
Sec.
5112

Nov. 6,
2000

"(d)(1) United States coins shall have the inscription

'In God We Trust.' The obverse side of each coin
shall have the inscription 'Liberty'. The reverse side of
each coin shall have the inscription 'United States of
America' and 'E Pluribus Unum' and a designation of
the value of the coin."

4. Patriotic and National

Observances,
Ceremonies, and
Organizations - National
Day of Prayer

36 USC
Sec. 119

Aug. 12,
1998

"The President shall issue each year a proclamation

designating the first Thursday in May as a National
Day of Prayer on which the people of the United
States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at
churches, in groups, and as individuals." [First
effective Apr. 17, 1952]

5. Patriotic and National

Observances,
Ceremonies, and
Organizations - National
Motto

36 USC
Sec. 302

Aug. 12,
1998

"'In God we trust' is the national motto." [First

effective July 30, 1956]

6. Patriotic and National

Observances,
Ceremonies, and
Organizations - Army and

36 USC
Sec.
22903

Aug. 12,
1998

"The purposes of the corporation are as provided in

the articles of incorporation and include (2) serving our Nation under God in peace as well as
in war by fostering the ideals and faith of patriotism,

Navy Union of the U.S.A.

loyalty, justice, and liberty, by inculcating in the hearts

of young and old, through percept and practice, the
spirit of true Americanism, and by participating in civic
activities for the good of our country and
community..."

7. Patriotic and National

Observances,
Ceremonies, and
Organizations - Catholic
War Veterans of the
U.S.A., Inc.

36 USC
Sec.
40103

Aug. 12,
1998

"The purposes of the corporation are as provided in

the articles of incorporation and include a continuing
commitment, on a national basis, to (12) increase our love, honor, and service to God and
to our fellow man without regard to race, creed, color,
or national origin..."

8. Flag and Seal, Seat of

Government, and the
States

4 USC
Sec. 4

Aug. 12,
1998

"The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: 'I pledge

allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one
Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.', should be rendered by standing at attention
facing the flag with the right hand over the heart."
[First effective without phrase "under God" as of June
22, 1942. Effective with phrase "under God" as of
June 14, 1954.]

9. Judiciary and Judicial

Procedure: Rules of The
United States Court of
International Trade Attorneys; Admission to
Practice

28 USC
Append.

July 1,
1998

"(b)(2) The applicant shall be admitted either (A)

upon oral motion by a members of the bar of this
court or of the Supreme Court of the United States,
before a judge of this court who will administer the
following oath: 'I, ______, do solemnly swear (or
affirm)...so help me God.'"

10. Judiciary and Judicial

Procedure: The U.S.
Court of Federal Claims Attorneys

28 USC
Append.

Dec. 4,
1992

"...may be admitted to practice in this court upon oral

motion or by verified application, as provided in this
rule, and upon taking or subscribing to the following
oath: 'I, _______, do solemnly swear (or affirm),...so
help me God.'"

11. Judiciary and Judicial

Procedure: Oaths of
justices and judges

28 USC
Sec. 453

Dec. 1,
1990

"Each justice or judge of the United States shall take

the following oath or affirm before performing the
duties of his office: 'I, _______, do solemnly swear
(or affirm),...So help me God.'"

12. Armed Forces Personnel; Enlistments

10 USC
Sec. 502

Nov. 29,
1989

"Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take

the following oath:
"...So help me God.'"

13. National Guard Personnel; Enlistment

Oath

32 USC
Sec. 304

Sep. 29,
1988

"Each person enlisting in the National Guard shall

sign an enlistment contract and subscribe to the
following oath:

'...So help me God."'

14. Armed Forces:
Personnel - Uniform
Code of Military Justice

10 USC
Sec. 802

Mar. 28,
1988

"If I become a prisoner of war...I will never forget that

I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible
for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which
made my country free. I will trust my God and in the
United States of America."

15. Patriotic and National

Observances,
Ceremonies, and
Organizations - National
Floral Emblem

36 USC
Sec. 303

Nov. 20,
1986

"The flower commonly known as the rose is the

national floral emblem." Proc. No. 5574, 11/20/86, by
President Ronald Reagan: "Americans have always
loved the flowers with which God decorates our land.
More often than any other flower, we hold the rose
dear as the symbol of life and love and devotion, of
beauty and eternity. For the love of man and woman,
for the love of mankind and God, for the love of
country, Americans who would speak the language of
the heart do so with a rose.
The American people have long held a special place
in their hearts for roses. Let us continue to cherish
them, to honor the love and devotion they represent,
and to bestow them on all we love just as God has
bestowed them on us."

16. Money and Finance:

Coins and Currency

31 USC
Sec.
5114

Sep. 13,
1982

"(b) United States currency has the inscription 'In

God We Trust' in a place the Secretary [of the
Treasury] decides is appropriate."

17. Government
Organization and
Employees - Oath of
Office

5 USC
Sec.
3331

Sep. 6,
1966

"An individual, except the President, elected or

appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil
service or uniformed services, shall take the following
oath, 'I, ...So help me God.'"

18. Armed Forces - Navy

and Marine Corps:
Personnel Administration;
Chaplains: divine
services

10 USC
Sec.
6031

Aug. 7,
1959

"(b) The commanders of vessels and naval activities

to which chaplains are attached shall cause divine
service to be performed on Sunday, whenever the
weather and other circumstances allow it to be done;
and it is earnestly recommended to all officers,
seamen, and others in the naval service diligently to
attend at every performance of the worship of
Almighty God."

19. National Guard Personnel - Appointment

Oath

32 USC
Sec. 312

Aug. 10,
1956

"Each person who is appointed as an officer of the

National Guard shall subscribe to the following oath:
'...so help me God.'"

20. War and National

Defense Proc. No. 2914 -

50 USC
App.

Dec. 16,
1950

"WHEREAS, if the goal of communist imperialism

were to be achieved, the people of this country would

National Emergency,
1950

no longer enjoy the full and rich life they have with
God's help built for themselves and their
children...NOW, THEREFORE, I, HARRY S.
TRUMAN, President of the United States of America,
do proclaim the existence of a national emergency,
which requires that the military, naval, air, and civilian
defenses of this country be strengthened as speedily
as possible to the end that we may be able to repeal
any and all threats against our national security..."

21. Territories and Insular

Possessions: Guam The Legislature - Oath of
Office

48 USC
Sec.
1423d

22. Judiciary and Judicial

Procedure: Court Officers
and Employees - Oath of
Office of clerks and
deputies

28 USC
Sec. 951

Aug. 1,
1950

"Every member of the legislature and all officers of

the government of Guam shall take the following oath
or affirmation:
'I solemnly swear (or affirm) in the presence of
Almighty God..."

June 25, "Each clerk of court and his deputies shall take the
1948
following oath or affirmation before entering upon
their duties: 'I, ...So help me God.'"