United States Flag Act

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United States of America flag.

The Flag Act of the United States ( United States Flag Code , Title 4 of the United States Code ) contains provisions on the presentation and handling of the flag of the United States . Although US law is in force , it is hardly enforced in everyday civil life, and a violation of its rules has virtually no consequences. Prosecution would violate the right to freedom of expression ( 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution ), as the United States Supreme Court has ruled several times.

Show respect

  • The flag should not be lowered in front of any person or object except to salute the flag of a foreign ship or nation .
  • The flag should not be hoisted with the starfield face down unless it is an emergency.
  • The flag should not appear on any clothing, fabric, or ornaments. Nor should it be used to cover a lectern or for decoration. For this purpose, a colored flag is provided, arranged with blue above, white in the middle and red below.
  • The flag should not be depicted gathered up.
  • The flag should not be used as a ceiling ornament.
  • The flag should not be used for promotional purposes. It must not be used on items such as upholstery, handkerchiefs, napkins, cardboard boxes.
  • The flag should not be part of a costume or jersey. Exceptions are flags as patches on uniforms of the military, the fire brigade, police and patriotic organizations. On military uniforms, the flag is worn on the left upper arm. If it is worn on the right upper arm, the star field is on the right, also pointing forward. This is supposed to represent the waving of the flag as it moves forward. This reversed display is called the "Reverse Field Flag".
  • The flag should not be obscured by badges, insignia, letters, words, numbers, figures or symbols of any kind.
  • The flag should not be used to transport objects of any kind.
  • The flag should not be placed over the hood, roof, sides, or end of a vehicle, train, or boat.
  • When the flag is lowered it should not touch the ground or anything else. It should be received by a person when being condescended. The flag should be ceremonially and neatly folded for storage .
  • The flag should not be hoisted in the rain or in stormy weather on either public or private land (unless it flies at half mast )
  • If the flag is damaged or faded so that it can no longer be used as a symbol of the United States, it should be destroyed with dignity, preferably by a ceremonial cremation.
  • The flag should never touch anything below the flag itself. Contrary to popular belief, the Flag Act does not require that a flag that touches the ground be destroyed. Instead, in such a case, it must be hoisted so far that it no longer touches the ground or an object under the flag.

Raising the flag outdoors

  • If the flag is mounted on a mast from a window, balcony, or building, the star field at the top of the mast should be flown unless the flag is fluttered at half mast. When the flag is hoisted on the same pole with another flag, the flag of the United States should always be hoisted on top of the second flag. An exception is the church standard ( signal flag 8 ), which may be hoisted above the flag of the United States during a church ceremony on a ship of the US Navy.
  • If the flag is hoisted in the middle of a street, the star field should point north or east. If the flag is hoisted over a common sidewalk, the star field should point away from the building.
  • If the flag is hoisted on multiple flagpoles of the same height with flags of the U.S. state, locality, or association, the flag of the United States should be hoisted to the right of the rest of the flags. The rest of the flags can be the same size but should not be larger than the flag of the United States.
  • No flag should be hoisted over or at the same height to the right of the flag of the United States. The flag of the United States should be hoisted first and last lowered (excluding national flags).
  • If the flag is hoisted together with national flags of other countries, each flag should be hoisted on its own flagpole. All flags should be the same size and all masts the same height. All flags should be hoisted and lowered at the same time. No national flag should be hoisted higher than the rest of the flags.
  • The flag should be hoisted quickly and brought down slowly and ceremonially.
  • The flag should only be hoisted between sunrise and sunset. The flag law allows the flag to be hoisted at night if "a patriotic or motivating effect" is desired and lighting is available. The flag should also only be hoisted in good weather, unless it is an all-weather flag.

Raising the flag inside buildings

  • The flag should always be positioned to the right of any other flags. On a stage, the flag should be on the speaker's right. The remaining flags should be positioned to the left of the speaker.
  • If several (non-national) flags are displayed at the same time, the flag of the United States should be positioned in the center and higher than the other flags.
  • When two flags are displayed together on crossed masts, the flag of the United States should be displayed to the right of the remaining flag. The mast should be in front of the mast of the remaining flag.
  • If the flag is displayed on a wall, the star field should face up. The star field should be on the right from the point of view of the flag and on the left from the point of view of the observer.

Saluting and saluting the flag

  • In pageants, the flag should be displayed to the right of the marchers.
  • If additional flags are worn, the flag of the United States should be worn in the center and in front of the other flags.
  • When the flag of the United States is hoisted or lowered, one should turn to the flag and greet it.
    • Uniform wearers pay the appropriate formal salute.
    • Members of uniformed organizations in formation salute together on command.
    • Civilians hold their right hand over their hearts. Headgear should be removed with the right hand and held in front of the left shoulder so that the right hand is over the heart.

US oath of allegiance and national anthem

  • The US oath of allegiance should be made while looking at the flag and greeting according to the above provisions.
  • When the national anthem of the USA is played, the flag should be greeted from the first to the last note. If the anthem is played without hoisting the flag, the source of the music should be greeted.

The flag in mourning

  • To hoist the flag at half-mast, it should first be raised to full height and then lowered to half-mast.
  • If the flag is raised at half-mast, it should first be hoisted to its full height and then lowered.
  • On Memorial Day , the flag should be hoisted at half-mast until noon and at normal height from noon until sunset.
  • In the event of the death of a current or previous US President, the flag should be hoisted at half-mast for a period of 30 days.
  • The flag is hoisted at half-mast on orders from the US President or a governor in the US or the corresponding state.
  • If a coffin is covered with the flag, the star field should be placed on the head and left shoulder of the deceased. The flag should not be lowered into the grave.

history

Prior to the introduction of Flag Day on June 14, 1923, neither the US government nor the individual states had rules for handling the flag. The US flag law was drafted by representatives of the US Army , US Navy and other groups. It came into force on December 22, 1942. In keeping with its military origins, the President, in his capacity as Commander in Chief, may expand, shorten or change the Flag Act at any time.

credentials

  1. ↑ 4 USC § 8 (a) 4 USC § 8 (a)
  2. ↑ http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode04/usc_sec_04_00000008----000-.html
  3. ↑ Mikkelson, Barbara and David P. Flag Disposal . Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  4. ↑ In front of the headquarters of the UN, the flag of the United Nations is raised relative to the other flags.
  5. ↑ http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/4/10

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