U.S. Flag Code

 

U.S. Flag Code, first developed in the 1920s, establishes "advisory" rules for display and care of the flag of the United States.  It is in Section 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq).

Although the Flag Code is indeed federal law and there are numerous statutes in the various states, it provides no method of enforcement.  Thus although these "laws" give instructions on how the national flag should be treated, they basically remain only traditions, as the Supreme Court says that they are not legally enforceable.  There is no "Flag Police" that enforces the suggested treatment or display of the national flag.

The Flag Code's rules of etiquette only apply within U.S. jurisdiction; in other countries and places their local etiquette applies.

Sources of information about this topic:

• The Flag - Flag and Seal, Seat of Government, and the States - from USCODE: Title 4 (Chapter 1).
• US Flag Net - a website completely dedicated to knowledge about the U.S. Flag.
• U.S. Code Chapter 1 - The Flag - from Cornell Law School.
• The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions - from the Congressional Research Service (pdf download).
• Concord American Flagpoles - the largest flagpole manufacturer in the country.  Its website includes etiquette information, including where to find current flag designs or specifications.

For information on the protocol for displaying historic U.S. flags, visit this guidance.