ANSWERS: 2
  • An oath is like someone giving their word that they are telling the truth, as when a witness is sworn in and agrees to " tell the truth and nothing but the truth". An affirmation is a positive response, or confirming what another party has said. Same as if you asked me, " Do you smoke pot", and I said " yes". My "yes" would be an affirmation.
  • There really is no difference. An oath is usually a longer statement like "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you god." You will note that in the oath you are usually swearing to a higher power or swearing to do something. For example, the oath of office for the President requires the president to swear or affirm they will uphold the Constitution. An affirmation, on the other hand, is usually only a statement that something you did in the past was what you say it was, or something you are about to do will conform to the affirmation. For example, you may affirm that a signature that was written in the past is in fact yours, or you may affirm that the testimony you are bout to give is truthful. Although, these distinctions generally do not exist anymore, and the terms are used interchangeably. For example, the oath of office for the president now allows the president to "swear" or to "affirm."

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