Every four years when the President of the United States takes the oath of office and recites the words required by the U.S. Constitution, he officially begins a new term. But one phrase that U.S. presidents are not required to say are the words "So Help Me God."

Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution requires that before presidents can assume their duties they must take the oath of office. The completion of this 35-word oath ends one president's term and begins the next.