In Australia the Oath of Allegiance and the Affirmation of Allegiance are oaths of allegiance made to the monarch of Australia. Both are defined by the Constitution of Australia.
Certain public office holders in Australia such as the Governor General and members of both houses of federal parliament are required to make one of the oaths. The words of both the oath and affirmation are attached as a schedule to the Constitution.
The Oath of Allegiance reads as follows:
- I, A.B., do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Her heirs and successors according to law. SO HELP ME GOD!
The Affirmation of Allegiance reads as follows:
- I, A.B., do solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Her heirs and successors according to law.
As per the schedule in the Constitution, the words "Her" and "Queen Victoria" are substituted as required with the pronoun and name of the reigning monarch.
Famous quotes containing the words oath and/or allegiance:
“If its individual citizens, to a man, are to be believed, it always is depressed, and always is stagnated, and always is at an alarming crisis, and never was otherwise; though as a body, they are ready to make oath upon the Evangelists, at any hour of the day or night, that it is the most thriving and prosperous of all countries on the habitable globe.”
—Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
“And then I stole all courtesy from heaven,
And dressed myself in such humility
That I did pluck allegiance from men’s hearts,
Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths,
Even in the presence of the crowned King.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)