The U.S. Government for Kids and Teens: Oath of Allegence

The Oath of Allegiance is a promise made by immigrants when they become U.S. citizens. In it, they promise to give up their allegiance to their former country and to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and laws. The oath new citizens take today went into effect with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.

Source: U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.