Individual Accountability: Why Every Member of Congress Must Swear the Oath Individually

For decades, incoming congressional classes have been sworn in en masse. While legal precedent presumes assent, collective ceremonies leave an unsettling question unresolved: how can the public verify that each elected official has individually bound themselves to the Constitution?

True accountability requires individual scrutiny. Administering the oath representative by representative ensures there is no doubt in any citizen’s mind as to who has sworn fidelity to the nation.