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Chapter 3.74 Oaths of Office

City Code Chapter

3.74.010 Persons Required to Take Oath.

  1. A. Each of the following employees is required to take an oath of office. The oath will be filed and preserved in the office of the Auditor:
    1. 1. Every officer and member of the Bureau of Police, including temporary and reserve officers;
    2. 2. Parking code enforcement supervisors and officers;
    3. 3. Each officer and member of Portland Fire & Rescue serving full time and devoting labor exclusively to the interests of the City;
    4. 4. Each elected City official;
    5. 5. The City Attorney and every deputy City Attorney; and
    6. 6. Each deputy Auditor who administers oaths.
  2. B. For boards or commissions that the Council is empowered by the Charter to create, the Council may require the members to take an oath of office. For advisory boards or commissions that the Mayor is empowered by the Charter to create, the Mayor may require the members to take an oath of office. A board or commission created by the Charter may require its members to take an oath of office. If an oath of office is required, the Council, Mayor, or the board or commission will establish requirements for the form, administration, and filing of the oath.

3.74.020 Form of Oath for Mayor, Councilor, and Auditor.

  1. The form of oath to be taken by the elected officials of the City, after receiving a certificate of election from the City Elections Officer and before entering upon the discharge of their duties, will be substantially as follows:
  2. I, (name), do solemnly (affirm or swear) that I will support the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of Oregon and the Charter of the City of Portland and its laws; I will faithfully, honestly and ethically perform my duties as (Mayor/Councilor/ Auditor); I have no undisclosed financial interest in any business located in Portland or having contracts with the City; I hold no other office or position of profit; and I am not a member of any committee of any political party.
  3. Additional language may be added for ceremonial purposes but will not be considered part of the official oath of office.

3.74.030 Form of Oath for Non-Elected City Employees.

  1. The form of oath to be taken by non-elected City employees, before entering upon the discharge of their duties or as soon as possible thereafter, will be substantially as follows:
  2. I, (name), do solemnly (affirm or swear) that I will support the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of Oregon and the Charter of the City of Portland and its laws; and I will faithfully, honestly and ethically perform my duties as (office).
  3. Additional language may be added for ceremonial purposes but will not be considered part of the official oath of office.

3.74.040 Administering Oaths.

  1. When an oath is required by this Chapter:
  2. A. The oath may be administered by the Auditor, a deputy Auditor, a notary public, or a judge or magistrate of any court of record in the United States, within their respective jurisdictions.
  3. B. Oaths must be in writing and signed by the persons taking and administering the oath. Whenever the oath is administered by a person other than the Auditor or a deputy Auditor, the credentials of the person administering the oath will appear on the document, and the oath will be sent immediately to the Auditor.
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