---
title: O.C.G.A. § 45-12-4. Oath of office.
collection: code
id: 45-12-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 45-12-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-12-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-12-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-12-4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t45-(v33)-2016-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=cde47f8a_0#page=291
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES / GOVERNOR / GENERAL PROVISIONS
extraction_warnings:
  - indent_level_unclear:p291
---

# O.C.G.A. § 45-12-4. Oath of office.

The Governor-elect shall, before he enters on the duties of his office, take the following oath in the presence of the General Assembly in joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives:

‘‘I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of Governor of the State of Georgia and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution thereof and the Constitution of the United States.’’

Upon so taking the oath, the Governor-elect shall become Governor. The Lieutenant Governor-elect shall take the same oath with the substitution of ‘‘Lieutenant Governor’’ for ‘‘Governor’’ and upon so taking such oath shall become Lieutenant Governor.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 57; Code 1868, § 53; Code 1873, § 50; Code 1882, § 50; Civil Code 1895, § 117; Civil Code 1910, § 140; Code 1933, § 40-104; Ga. L. 1949, p. 948, § 3; Ga. L. 1983, p. 1539, § 2.

## Cross References

Oath required, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. V, Sec. I, Para. VI.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 1983, p. 1539, § 1, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: ‘‘It is the intent of Section 2 of this Act to implement the provisions of Article V, Section I, Paragraph VI of the Constitution of the State of Georgia.’’