Pledge of Allegiance and Accountability to the United States of America
Ten Commitments to the Constitution and the American People
Declaration of Allegiance
“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.”
Introduction
I voluntarily sign this pledge as a candidate for or holder of public office. I recognize that public office is a public trust and that my authority comes from the people, subject to the Constitution and the law.
My allegiance is to the United States of America and its Constitution, above personal ambition, party loyalty, donors, or political advantage. I will serve faithfully within the lawful powers of my office and protect the rights of those I represent, including those who disagree with me.
I make these ten commitments openly and accept personal accountability for knowingly and materially violating them.
My Ten Commitments
Uphold the Constitution. I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, and all constitutional amendments. I will respect the separation of powers, lawful court orders, and the constitutional limits of my office.
Serve the people. I will place the public interest above personal gain, party demands, donors, and special interests. I will listen to my constituents and serve them fairly, whether or not they voted for me.
Tell the truth. I will not knowingly lie to the public, fabricate evidence, or deliberately mislead through material omissions. When I discover that I have made a false statement, I will promptly and publicly correct it.
Honor my promises. I will make only commitments I sincerely intend to pursue and will faithfully work to fulfill them. If circumstances or constitutional duties require a change, I will explain it publicly and truthfully rather than conceal or deny it.
Put America and Americans first. I will prioritize the security, freedom, and prosperity of the United States and the well-being of American citizens. I will not sacrifice the nation’s interests for personal benefit or improper foreign influence, and I will honor the nation’s lawful obligations.
Protect our borders and enforce immigration law. Within my lawful authority, I will work for secure borders, effective enforcement of immigration laws, and an orderly lawful immigration system. I will oppose unlawful entry, human trafficking, and smuggling while respecting due process and other constitutional protections.
Protect taxpayers and lawful benefit eligibility. I will oppose spending taxpayer money on public benefits for people unlawfully present in the United States, except where required by the Constitution or applicable law. I will uphold eligibility verification, oppose fraud and unlawful payments, and pursue any changes to existing exceptions through lawful means.
Defend our freedoms. I will protect freedom of speech, religion, the press, peaceful assembly, and petition under the First Amendment, and the right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment. I will also uphold every other constitutional protection, including due process, equal protection, and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Reject corruption and abuse of power. I will not accept bribes, misuse public resources, retaliate against lawful criticism, or use public office for improper personal enrichment. I will disclose conflicts as required by law, comply with ethics rules, and cooperate with lawful oversight.
Respect elections and constitutional government. I will uphold lawful voting rights, accurate election administration, and the peaceful transfer of power. I will pursue election disputes through lawful procedures, respect their lawful final resolution, and never use or encourage violence to obtain or retain office.
Accountability and Immediate Resignation
These commitments apply to my campaign and, if elected, throughout my service in the office identified below.
A violation means a knowing and material breach of a stated commitment. An allegation, an honest mistake promptly corrected, a good faith disagreement over policy, or failure to achieve a promised outcome despite sincere lawful efforts does not by itself establish a violation.
I agree to the following review procedure:
- Independent peer review. Before signing, five independent current or former public officials will be named in an attached panel record and will consent in writing to serve. No more than two may belong to the same political party. None may be my campaign employee, immediate family member, direct electoral opponent, or have a material conflict of interest.
- Evidence and an opportunity to respond. Complaints must identify a specific breach and supporting evidence. I will receive written notice and at least 30 calendar days to respond, present evidence, and address the panel with counsel if I choose.
- A documented finding. A violation requires clear and convincing evidence and agreement by at least four of the five panel members. The panel must issue a written decision identifying the commitment violated, supporting evidence, and reasons. Its decision and my response will be public, subject to lawful privacy protections.
- An agreed replacement procedure. The attached panel record must include a replacement procedure agreed to before signing. No replacement may be chosen solely by me or solely by the complainant.
If this panel finds that I knowingly and materially violated this pledge under the agreed procedure, I will immediately submit an unconditional written resignation, no later than 48 hours after receiving its written decision, effective at the earliest time permitted by applicable law.
If I am a candidate and do not yet hold the identified office, I will immediately withdraw to the extent legally possible and publicly end my candidacy.
This is my voluntary public promise to resign or withdraw. The panel does not acquire governmental removal powers. This pledge does not replace my official oath or constitutional and statutory procedures.
Conclusion
I understand that these are commitments to the American people. My signature represents my freely given promise to serve with honesty, fidelity, and respect for constitutional government.
I will not demand the public’s trust while refusing responsibility for my conduct. I accept the accountability procedure above and authorize publication of this signed pledge and its completed panel record.
I pledge my service to the United States of America, its Constitution, and its people, with liberty and justice for all.
Candidate or Officeholder
Printed legal name: ______________________________________
Office sought or held: ____________________________________
State and district or jurisdiction: ___________________________
Election year: __________________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________________
Date and time: _________________________________________
City and state of signing: _________________________________
Witness Attestation
We each attest that the person identified above signed this pledge voluntarily in our presence on the date shown. We witness the signing only; we do not certify future compliance or determine whether a violation has occurred.
Witness One
Printed name: __________________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________________
Witness Two
Printed name: __________________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________________
Required Panel Record
Complete and attach before signing:
- Names and written acceptance of all five panel members.
- Party affiliations and conflict disclosures.
- The agreed replacement procedure, signed by the candidate and all five panel members.
Candidate initials acknowledging the completed record: __________
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