HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

“I (giving name and title) do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and
affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth, Her heirs and successors, according to law.”
1.21 The oath or affirmation must be taken in English but may be
repeated in Welsh 1 or in Gaelic. 2
1.22 Before taking the oath a member goes to the Table, bringing his writ
of summons (except on a demise of the Crown, when new writs are not
issued). He then recites aloud the words of the oath, reading them from a
card kept at the Table, and holding a New Testament in the right hand. The
oath may also be taken in the Scottish form with uplifted hand. In the case of
members of the House who are of the Jewish faith, the Old Testament is
used; in the case of other faiths, the appropriate sacred text is used.
1.23 In cases of disability or infirmity the oath may be taken seated.
1.24 After taking the oath, a member must sign the Test Roll at the
head of which the oath and affirmation are written. He then signs an
undertaking to abide by the House of Lords Code of Conduct. Finally he
goes to the Woolsack, shakes hands with the Lord Speaker and goes out
of the House by the spiritual side into the Prince’s Chamber.
1.25 Lords who sit by virtue of one peerage but are known by another
title take the oath and sign the Roll using the title by virtue of which they sit.
1.26 Any member of the House who sits or votes without having taken
the oath is subject to a penalty of £500. 3 However, a member may
attend prayers or an introduction before taking the oath. On a swearingin
day (see paragraph 2.01) it is convenient for members to occupy their
seats while they are waiting to take the oath. Members who attend the
House without taking the oath are not recorded in the attendance lists in
the Journals, and votes cast by such members in divisions are invalid. 4 A
member of the House may not attend the State Opening of Parliament
without having taken the oath. 5
1 Procedure 1st Rpt 1982–83.
2 Procedure 1st Rpt 2001–02.
3 Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866, s. 5.
4 Procedure 2nd Rpt 1993–94.
5 Procedure 1st Rpt 1970–71. This restriction does not apply to those members who, while in
receipt of a writ of summons, are disqualified from attending under s. 137 of the
Constitutional Reform Act 2005. See above, paragraph 1.02.
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