Until the law constituting a Supreme Court of Judicature comes into force its functions shall be carried out by a Senate of seven members, of whom four shall be chosen from among their own members by the Reichstag and three by the Supreme Court. It shall regulate its own procedure. ARTICLE 173. Until promulgation of the act of the Realm referred to in Article 138, existing grants of the State to the religious associations in virtue of laws, contracts, or deeds shall continue. ARTICLE 174. Until the act of the Realm above referred to in Clause 2 of Article 146 is promulgated, previous legislation shall remain in force. The act shall pay special regard to those districts where a school which makes no religious distinction is established by law. ARTICLE 175. The provisions of Article 109 do not affect orders and insignia bestowed for service during the years 1914-1919. ARTICLE 176. All public officials and those on military service must take the oath to this constitution. The President of the Realm shall make further provision. ARTICLE 177. Where the existing law prescribes the formula of oath in a religious form, an individual may also be legally sworn so as to omit the religious form by saying the words: I swear. In all other respects the legal oath remains unaffected. ARTICLE 178. The constitution of the German Realm, dated April 16th, 1871, and the act for the Provisional Government, dated February 10th, 1919, are repealed. The remaining laws and ordinances of the Realm remain in force, in so far as consonant with this constitution. The conditions of the Peace Treaty signed at Versailles on June 28th, 1919, are not affected by this constitution. Orders legally issued by the public authorities in virtue of previously existing laws remain valid until replaced by further orders or legislation. ARTICLE 179. In so far as reference is made in laws or ordinances to regulations or institutions abolished by this constitution, there shall be substituted therefor the corresponding regulations or institutions of this constitution. In particular the Reichstag shall be substituted for the National Assembly, the Reichsrat for the States' Committee, and for the President of the Realm, elected under the act for the Provisional Government, a President of the Realm elected in virtue of this Constitution. The function of issuing ordinances pertaining to the States' Committee in virtue of previous regulations shall pass to the Government of the Realm; in issuing ordinances the Government of the Realm shall require the consent of the Reichsrat as laid down in this constitution. ARTICLE 180. Until the first Reichstag, the National Assembly shall count as Reichstag.[44] Until the first President of the Realm shall enter upon office, his functions shall be carried out by the President elected under the act for the Provisional Government. ARTICLE 181.