The pledging of allegiance contained in the citizenship oath is by
      no means a pledge of subjection or submission. The people of
      Freedonia are citizens, as am I, and are not subjects.

      The pledge of allegiance is in effect a pledge of alliance with me
      in the creation of our free state. As such, there is no need to
      blindly follow me, and citizens in parliament are not subject to my
      "will" when considering law. The parliament does in
      fact have the power to override my legislation or veto, and if they
      did not then this would be an "absolute monarchy". The pledge of
      "allegiance" is a recognition of my capacities and duties under the
      governmental system, and agreement to abide by them as with the
      rest of the governmental system.

      Only in an absoulte monarchy would you be pledging allegiance to
      one man.  The citizenship oath contains allegiance to
      Freedonian law, and to the constitution which we are all under. And
      in effect, you are not pledging "allegiance" to me alone, but also
      to the successive leaders throughout time.
 

John I