1546 OFFICIAL OATHS. [ART. 70

bers of that body and to its officers, and the same shall be subscribed
accordingly and be administered by one of the members of the house
of delegates to the speaker and by him to the other members of that
body and to its officers, and the same shall be subscribed accordingly.

1904, art. 70, sec. 4. 1888, art. 70, sec. 4. 1860, art. 68, sec. 4. 1854, ch. 18, sec. 7.

4. The clerks of the circuit courts for the counties, the superior
court of Baltimore city, the court of common pleas, the circuit court
of Baltimore city, the circuit court No. 2 of Baltimore city, the Balti-
more city court and the criminal court of Baltimore, shall severally
take and subscribe the oath prescribed by the constitution before the
judges of their respective courts.

Ibid. sec. 5. 1888, art. 70, sec. 5. 1860, art. 68, sec. 5. 1854, ch. 18, sec. 6.

5. All officers of municipal corporations, except the mayor or chief
magistrate, shall take such oath as may be prescribed by law or ordi-
nance before the mayor or chief magistrate of the corporation,

While the act of administering the oath is a ministerial one so far as the
mayor is concerned, it is essential to the induction Into office. Where the
mayor declines to administer the oath, the right to a public office is involved.
Creager v. Hooper, 83 Md. 501.

Ibid. sec. 6. 1894, ch. 110, sec. 5 A.

6. District school trustees shall take and subscribe the oath or
affirmation of office prescribed by the constitution before the county
school commissioiner and examiner or a justice of the peace in their
respective counties.

Ibid. sec. 7. 1888, art. 70, sec. 6. 1860, art. 68. sec. 6. 1852, ch. 172, sec. 1.

1854, ch. 18, sec. 5.

7. All other officers elected or appointed to any office of trust or
profit under the constitution and laws of this State, including the
mayors or other chief magistrates of municipal corporations, shall take
and subscribe the said oath in the city of Baltimore before the clerk
of the superior court, and in the several counties before the clerk of the
circuit court or before one of the sworn deputies of such clerks.

This section has no application to officers of registration—see article 33,
section 11. Hardesty v. Taft, 23 Md. 527.

Ibid. sec. 8. 1888, art. 70, sec. 7. 1860. art. 68. sec. 7. 1852, ch. 172, sec. 2.

8. The said clerks shall each procure and keep in his office a well
bound book to be called a test book, in which shall be printed or con-
spicuously written the oaths aforesaid, and every person taking or sub-
scribing the same shall annex to nis signature the title of the office to
which he shall have been elected or appointed and the date of his sig-
nature.

See note to sec. 7.