Loyalty oaths are often invoked during times of stress, such as wars, or when the government perceives an outside threat to security. To ensure unity the continental congress and the legislatures of the first states all enacted laws requiring citizens to pledge their allegiance to the U.S. The Puritans in New England required citizens to pledge their support of the commonwealth and to report any individuals who advocated dissent against the government. Loyalty oaths have played a role in American history since the settlement of the colonies. If an oath is overly broad or vague, it may be found unconstitutional. Loyalty oaths that infringe on a person's ability to exercise a constitutional right must be narrowly focused to achieve a legitimate government objective. Requiring an employee to promise to support the government as a condition of employment is constitutional as long as the requirement is reasonably related to the employee's fitness for the particular position. Employees in sensitive government positions may also be required to take a loyalty oath. Naturalized citizens are required to pledge their allegiance to the United States, as are members of the armed services. Loyalty oaths are required of government officials, such as the president, members of Congress and state legislatures, and members of the judiciary. An oath that declares an individual's allegiance to the government and its institutions and disclaims support of ideologies or associations that oppose or threaten the government.
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