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Sue Ella Deadwyler
Georgia Insight Newsletter
January 23, 2009
Inauguration is one of the very few times family members may accompany legislators onto busy House and Senate floors to share the honors and record the occasion with family photographs, during an official legislative working day. However, immediately following the swearing-in ceremony, visitors are politely "invited to leave the chamber" before routine legislative business can commence.
Two Oaths in the House of Representatives
The Honorable Leah Ward Sears, Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, officiated as 180 state representatives solemnly repeated the oath of office. But, before administering the oaths, she explained that its two-parts required two responses of "So help me God" from each legislator. Many of them brought their personal Bibles to use in the ceremony.
The first oath committed representatives to several things. They pledged (a) support for the constitutions of Georgia and the U.S. They, also, swore that they (b) have no outstanding debt to government state or local; (c) hold no other governmental office in the U.S. or Georgia or a foreign government; and (d) meet all constitutional requirements of legislators.
The second, the Loyalty Oath, also required of representatives, was powerful but short:
"I am a citizen of the State of Georgia and a member of the General Assembly and the recipient of public funds for services rendered as such officer and I do hereby solemnly swear and affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Georgia."
Each representative was, then, required to sign, date and turn in the "Official Oath of Georgia State Representative" form, indicating their House District Number, which also authorized them, as public officers, to receive salaries from the state.
The Clerk of the House
Georgia law requires the Clerk of the House to preside until House leaders are elected. So, Clerk Robbie Rivers officiated as Glenn Richardson was elected Speaker and Mark Burkhalter was elected Speaker Pro Tem, both by acclamation. Then, Speaker Richardson presided while representatives, by acclamation, re-elected Robbie Rivers to his long-time job as House Clerk.
One Oath in the Senate
Henry County Superior Court Judge Arch McGarity administered the Oath of Office to the 56 senators, including the Senates five new members. Though shorter, but just as binding, the Senate Oath of Office required only one "So help me God." Senators swore their (a) support for the constitutions of the state and the U.S. They (b) affirmed they hold no unaccounted-for public money to Georgia or its political subdivisions or authorities and (c) hold no office of trust under the U.S. government, another state, or a foreign state. In addition to his other duties, for 40 days the lieutenant governor presides over Senate business as President of the Senate.
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