OATH OR AFFIRMATION

Before testifying, every witness shall be required to declare that the witness will testify truthfully, by oath or affirmation administered in a form calculated to awaken the witness' conscience and impress the witness' mind with the duty to do so. Note: This rule is identical to the federal rule which sets forth the common law tenet that a witness is required to take an oath or affirmation to tell the truth before being allowed to testify. See 98 C.J.S. Witnesses § 320(a) (1957). The use of an affirmation instead of an oath is consistent with prior law. See S.C. Code Ann. § 19-1-40 (1985); Rule 43(d), SCRCP.