Final answer:
Notaries public take their oath of office from a person holding a public position, which may include judges or court clerks, and this is to affirm their duty to uphold the Constitution and laws of their jurisdiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who administers the oath of office to a notary varies by jurisdiction, but typically it's a person already holding a public position, such as a judge, a court clerk, or a commissioner of oaths. The oath is a solemn promise to adhere to the responsibilities and duties of the office and to uphold the Constitution. For example, in the case of the President of the United States, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court traditionally administers the presidential oath during the inauguration ceremony. This serves to emphasize the importance of the Constitution and the rule of law in American governance.
Section 3 of the United States Constitution specifies that all government officials, whether elected or appointed, must swear an oath to support the Constitution. For non-presidential offices, each state or local jurisdiction may have its own processes for who can administer the oath to its officials, including notaries public. After the oath is taken, the individual is empowered to execute their official duties, which for a notary includes witnessing the signing of legal documents and verifying the signers' identities.