Difference between revisions of "United States Flag Code"

Revision as of 01:45, July 11, 2007

The United States Flag Code (title 4, chapter 1 of the United States Code) is a law which describes the official appearance of the Flag of the United States and how it should be handled. The US Flag Code is purely descriptive, and does not include any provisions for enforcement outside of the District of Columbia.

In addition, the US Flag Code codifies the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Code's rules and standards

Appearance of the flag

Section one and two describe the official appearance of the US flag. Section one of the Code describes the flag as "thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white," with a union of "forty-eight stars, white in a blue field." The code, which was passed before the 1959 incorporation of Alaska and Hawaii as the 49th and 50th states^{[Citation Needed]}, also makes provisions for updating the flag in section two, adding new stars for new states on the following fourth of July.

Handling the flag

Section three describes how not to handle the flag, and sections five through nine describe how to handle, display, store, and respect the flag.

Defacement and misuse of the flag

Section 3 is describes how the US flag should not be handled, misused, or defaced.

While the bulk of the code is purely descriptive, violating section 3 within the District of Columbia carries a penalty of "a fine not exceeding $100 or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court." This law is little enforced, however, and there is much controversy concerning misuse and abuse of the US flag.

Pledge of Allegiance

Section four describes the Pledge of Allegiance, both codifying its text and describing proper conduct during the Pledge of Allegiance. People in military uniform should silently salute the flag, while other people should remove any non-religious headgear, and face the flag with their right hand over their heart.

History

External links

The text of Title 4 of the United States Code, Chapter 1 at law.cornell.edu
USHistory.org on handling and treatment of the US Flag

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 {{Image request|A picture of the US flag being flown on the same pole with other flags. Ideally, it would show the US flag below the UN flag and above other flags to illustrate all of the aspects of where to fly the flag.|thumb|right|}}
 Section three describes how not to handle the flag, and sections five through nine describe how to handle, display, store, and respect the flag.
+====Defacement and misuse of the flag====
+Section 3 is describes how the US flag should not be handled, misused, or defaced.
+While the bulk of the code is purely descriptive, violating section 3 within the [[District of Columbia]] carries a penalty of "a fine not exceeding $100 or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court." This law is little enforced, however, and there is much controversy concerning [[Flag desecration in the United States of America|misuse and abuse of the US flag]].
 ===Pledge of Allegiance===