Test Acts, various British laws excluding from public office men who were not members of the Church of England. The earliest, the Corporation Act of 1661, was directed chiefly against Nonconformists (Protestants outside the Anglican church). The law required all municipal officeholders to take Holy Communion in the Church of England. Later, when many people feared the influence of Roman Catholics upon the monarchy, the same religious test was applied to members of the national government. The Test Act of 1673 limited all civil and military offices to Anglican communicants. The Test Act of 1678 extended this requirement to members of Parliament. All three acts were repealed during the 19th century.
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