Question

How is it possible that several states required officeholders to adhere to certain religious beliefs even after the passage of the constitution?

Answer 1

Within the Article VI, Section 3 of the United States Constitution, we can find a clause which is called as the “No Religious Test Clause”. By simple terms, this clause means that no federal office holder or employee can be mandated to stick on to or believe any particular religion or doctrine as a requirement to holding a federal office or a federal government job.

However there are eight states which do required officeholders to adhere even with the passage of this constitution. These states are Texas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee. This is because these eight states include language in their constitutions which requires state officeholders to believe in a particular religion or specifically protecting those who do. Additionally, some of these states have the words “so help me God” in the oath of office.