Okay, the exact citation, from the Clerk's Office, cites as follows, from the 109th Congress (2005):
The oath of office required by the sixth article of the Constitution of the United States, and as provided by section 2 of the act of May 13, 1884 (23 Stat. 22), to be administered to members, Resident Commissioner, and Delegates of the House of Representatives, the text of which is carried in 5 U.S.C. 3331:
"I, AB, 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."
No mention is made, one way or another, if a hand is placed on a Bible or not, but as the Oath is administered en masse I believe that it is not and, from what photos I have seen of it on other ask.com sites, it is sometimes done and sometimes nt, depending on if only one Congresscritter is being swonr or a bunch are.
no subject
The oath of office required by the sixth article of the Constitution of the United States, and as provided by section 2 of the act of May 13, 1884 (23 Stat. 22), to be administered to members, Resident Commissioner, and Delegates of the House of Representatives, the text of which is carried in 5 U.S.C. 3331:
"I, AB, 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."
http://clerk.house.gov/members/oathoffice.html
No mention is made, one way or another, if a hand is placed on a Bible or not, but as the Oath is administered en masse I believe that it is not and, from what photos I have seen of it on other ask.com sites, it is sometimes done and sometimes nt, depending on if only one Congresscritter is being swonr or a bunch are.
So we both could be correct.
Lee