Rights & liberties
Religious Test Clause
Article VI's rule that no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification for any federal office or public trust.
In full
Written into the original Constitution, before the Bill of Rights, at a time when most states imposed religious qualifications for office. Together with the Establishment Clause it means federal office is open regardless of belief, and the oath of office may be affirmed rather than sworn.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.