The Senate then revised its rules to require that members not only take the Test Oath orally, but also that they "subscribe" to it by signing a printed copy. This condition reflected a wartime practice in which military and civilian authorities required anyone wishing to do business with the federal government to sign a copy of the Test Oath. The current practice of newly sworn senators signing individual pages in an oath book dates from this period.
The Senate then revised its rules to require that members not only take the Test Oath orally, but also that they "subscribe" to it by signing a printed copy This condition reflected a wartime practice in which military and civilian authorities required anyone wishing to do business with the federal gove,rnment to sign a copy of the Test Oath The current practice of newly sworn senators signing in:dividual pages in an oath book dates from this period