The following is an example of an oath that can be administered with an affidavit: You do solemnly ________ or ________ that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Hawaii. Which two words complete the blanks?

• A. Oath; Declare
• B. Vow; Certify
• C. Decree; Declare
• D. Swear; Affirm

Answer: (D)

When an oath or affidavit uses the phrase “do solemnly _____ or _____ that you will,” the blanks must be verbs that express taking the oath or making a formal affirmation. The standard choices are “swear” or “affirm.” Swear carries the traditional, religious-tinged form, while affirm provides a non-religious alternative; both have the same legal effect in affirming the statements to be true and to uphold the duties referenced. The other options don’t fit because they either use nouns (like “oath”) or verbs that aren’t the conventional legal phrasing (such as “declare,” “certify,” or “decree”). So the correct pair is “swear” and “affirm.”