During a citizenship ceremony, an applicant who does not wish to swear a religious oath may choose to make an 'Affirmation' instead of the 'Oath of Allegiance'. Which of the following statements correctly describes the Affirmation?
- It allows the applicant to make a non-religious promise while still pledging allegiance to the Monarch.Answer
- BIt is a statement where the applicant pledges loyalty to the United Kingdom instead of to the Monarch.
- CIt replaces the promise of allegiance with a commitment to uphold the democratic values of the UK.
- DIt is an optional statement that removes the requirement for the applicant to make a Citizenship Pledge.
Answer
The Affirmation is a non-religious promise of allegiance to the Monarch, serving as an alternative to the religious Oath of Allegiance.
The correct answer is correct because the Affirmation is explicitly defined in the official handbook as the non-religious alternative to the Oath of Allegiance. While it removes the phrase 'swear by Almighty God', it retains the exact same promise of being 'faithful and bear true allegiance' to the Monarch.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The distinction between the religious Oath of Allegiance and the non-religious Affirmation, and their shared focus on the Monarch.
Estimated Time:45s