Short Stack: The President's Oath

Obeying the will of the people is not always the same as maintaining fidelity to the Constitution.

Dear President Trump,

Congratulations on becoming the 47th President of the United States!

Midway through your inaugural address, you stated: “The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.” That is not entirely accurate. You took an oath to the United States Constitution. In fact, the presidential oath is the only one prescribed by the Constitution:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

This distinction matters because, at times, obeying the will of the people and maintaining fidelity to the Constitution can be incompatible. Throughout American history, it is common for large majorities of citizens—or their elected members of Congress—to support or even demand unconstitutional actions, programs, and policies from their government.