Title 4 — Flag and Seal; Seat of Government; StatesRelease 119-73not60
§7 Position and Manner of Display
Title 4 › Chapter 1— THE FLAG › § 7
Summary
When the U.S. flag is carried with other flags, it must be on the marching right or in front and center if there is a line of flags. It may only be shown on a parade float if mounted on a staff. The flag must not be draped over a vehicle’s hood, top, sides, or back. If placed on a car, the staff must be firmly attached to the chassis or clamped to the right fender. No other flag may be placed above or to the flag’s right, except a church pennant flown above the flag during naval chaplain services at sea, and the prior practice at United Nations headquarters is allowed. When crossed with another flag, the U.S. flag’s staff must be in front and its position on the right. The U.S. flag should be the highest and central flag in a group, and when flown with other flags on the same halyard it must be at the peak and be raised first and lowered last. Foreign nations’ flags must fly on separate, equal staffs and be about equal size. If displayed from a projecting staff, the blue field (union) goes to the staff’s peak unless the flag is at half-staff. Against a wall or in a window the union goes to the flag’s own right (the observer’s left). Over a street, the union should face north on an east–west street and east on a north–south street. On a speaker’s platform the flag should be above and behind the speaker or to the speaker’s right in a church or auditorium. The flag may be used in unveiling ceremonies but not as a covering for a statue. On a casket the union goes over the head and left shoulder and the flag must never touch the ground. In corridors or lobbies the union faces the observer’s left for a single main entrance, or toward the north or east as described when there are multiple entrances. The flag must be raised to the top briefly before lowering to half-staff, and raised again to the top before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day it is at half-staff until noon, then raised. The President can order flags at half-staff for principal national figures. A Governor or the Mayor of the District of Columbia may order half-staff for certain state or local officials, members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty, or first responders; federal facilities in that area follow the Governor’s order for military deaths. Flags are to be half-staff for 30 days after the death of a President or former President; 10 days after the death of a Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice, or the Speaker of the House; from death until interment for an Associate Justice, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or a Governor; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag is half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. Defines: “half-staff” as the flag placed halfway between top and bottom of the staff; “executive or military department” as the agencies listed in sections 101 and 102 of title 5; “Member of Congress” as a Senator, Representative, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico; and “first responder” as a “public safety officer” defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284).
Full Legal Text
Title 4, §7
Flag and Seal; Seat of Government; States — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag’s own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
(a)The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section.
(b)The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.
(c)No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.
(d)The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag’s own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
(e)The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.
(f)When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag’s right.
(g)When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.
(h)When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.
(i)When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right, that is, to the observer’s left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.
(j)When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.
(k)When used on a speaker’s platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman’s or speaker’s right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.
(l)The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used as the covering for the statue or monument.
(m)The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia, members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia, and first responders working in the District of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection—
(1)the term “half-staff” means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
(2)the term “executive or military department” means any agency listed under section 101 and 102 of title 5;
(3)the term “Member of Congress” means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico; and
(4)the term “first responder” means a “public safety officer” as defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284).
(n)When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.
(o)When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building with only one main entrance, it should be suspended vertically with the union of the flag to the observer’s left upon entering. If the building has more than one main entrance, the flag should be suspended vertically near the center of the corridor or lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the east and west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south. If there are entrances in more than two directions, the union should be to the east.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 736:175.June 22, 1942, ch. 435, § 3, 56 Stat. 378; Dec. 22, 1942, ch. 806, § 3, 56 Stat. 1075; July 9, 1953, ch. 183, 67 Stat. 142; July 7, 1976, Pub. L. 94–344, (6)–(11), 90 Stat. 811; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320922(b), 108 Stat. 2131.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018—Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 115–123, § 10102(a), in sixth sentence of introductory provisions, substituted “possession of the United States,” for “possession of the United States or” and “former officials of the District of Columbia,” for “former officials of the District of Columbia and” and inserted “or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty,” after “while serving on active duty,” and “, and first responders working in the District of Columbia” before the period. Subsec. (m)(2). Pub. L. 115–123, § 10102(b)(1), substituted a semicolon for “, United States Code; and”. Subsec. (m)(4). Pub. L. 115–123, § 10102(b)(2), (3), added par. (4). 2007—Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 110–41, in sixth sentence, inserted “or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty” after “present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States” and substituted “, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation.” for period at end.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2018 Amendment Pub. L. 115–123, div. A, § 10102(c), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 64, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to deaths of first responders occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 9, 2018].” Finding Pub. L. 110–41, § 2, June 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 233, provided that: “Congress finds that members of the Armed Forces of the United States defend the freedom and security of the United States.”
Executive Documents
Proc. No. 3044. Display of Flag at Half-Staff Upon Death of Certain Officials and Former Officials Proc. No. 3044, Mar. 1, 1954, 19 F.R. 1235, as amended by Proc. No. 3948, Dec. 12, 1969, 34 F.R. 19699, provided: WHEREAS it is appropriate that the flag of the United States of America be flown at half-staff on Federal buildings, grounds, and facilities upon the death of principal officials and former officials of the Government of the United States and the Governors of the States, Territories, and possessions of the United States as a mark of respect to their memory; and WHEREAS it is desirable that rules be prescribed for the uniform observance of this mark of respect by all executive departments and agencies of the Government, and as a guide to the people of the Nation generally on such occasions: NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America and Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, do hereby prescribe and proclaim the following rules with respect to the display of the flag of the United States of America at half-staff upon the death of the officials hereinafter designated: 1. The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions for the period indicated upon the death of any of the following-designated officials or former officials of the United States: (a) The President or a former President: for thirty days from the day of death. The flag shall also be flown at half-staff for such period at all United States embassies, legations, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations. (b) The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives: for ten days from the day of death. (c) An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former Vice President, the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Majority Leader of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, or the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives: from the day of death until interment. 2. The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the metropolitan area of the District of Columbia on the day of death and on the following day upon the death of a United States Senator, Representative, Territorial Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and it shall also be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the State, Congressional District, Territory, or Commonwealth of such Senator, Representative, Delegate, or Commissioner, respectively, from the day of death until interment. 3. The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on all buildings and grounds of the Federal Government in a State, Territory, or possession of the United States upon the death of the Governor of such State, Territory, or possession from the day of death until interment. 4. In the event of the death of other officials, former officials, or foreign dignitaries, the flag of the United States shall be displayed at half-staff in accordance with such orders or instructions as may be issued by or at the direction of the President, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. 5. The heads of the several departments and agencies of the Government may direct that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff on buildings, grounds, or naval vessels under their jurisdiction on occasions other than those specified herein which they consider proper, and that suitable military honors be rendered as appropriate. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed. DONE at the City of Washington this 1st day of March in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-eighth. [seal] Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
4 U.S.C. § 7
Title 4 — Flag and Seal; Seat of Government; States
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60