Test Act

The test file (English Test Act, "sample" ) was a law that forced the British Parliament in 1673 by Charles II. It wrote for every state officials - in addition to the oath of supremacy ( which concerned the supreme ecclesiastical power of the crown) - mandatory yet another oath, which had to be signed in writing. With this test oath, the subject told you not to believe in transubstantiation, that the Catholic doctrine of the conversion of bread and wine into the true Body and Blood of Christ.

The test file thus concluded professing Catholics and Dissenters not only from all public offices, but also by a member of the Parliament. With the law, Parliament responded to the conversion of Jacob, the Duke of York to Catholicism. It feared that the brother and expected successor of the childless king recatholicisation England would embark on. After his accession in 1685, James II appointed actually Catholics in high office. This contributed significantly to the resistance against the new king, who was overthrown in the Glorious Revolution in 1688.

Only the Parliament Act of April 13, 1829 picked up test file and test oath and provided for the emancipation of the Catholics. But even before 1871 were similar at universities of England regulations in force, and until the 20th century, the office of Lord Chancellor and the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland were closed Catholics.