On their first day as a majority party, Republican congressmen read the United States Constitution out loud, mostly to give the impression that they understand it. That symbolic pretense was seriously undermined by Representatives Pete Sessions (R, TX-32) and Mike Fitzpatrick (R, PA-8). They didn’t bother getting themselves sworn in but voted on the House floor anyway.
Why didn’t Congressmen Sessions and Fitzpatrick get sworn in? They were busy attending a fundraiser. Republicans have their priorities; swearing to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” apparently isn’t one of them. Sessions says he raised his hand and took the oath while watching the swearing-in ceremony on TV.
Who says that congressmen have to be sworn in, anyway? Just Article VI of the U.S. Constitution.
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