The Curious Lawyer: Flag Law

• Federal laws that relate to display and use of flags
• Flag desecration laws
• Flag burning
• Flags and advertising
• Pledge of Allegiance laws and First Amendment religion-speech challenges
• Laws on Appropriate Conduct during National Anthem
• State flags with confederate flags in them and confederate flags in jury rooms

The Flag, National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance are all symbols of our nation but did you know these symbols are governed by a detailed set of federal laws? These laws define the flag’s appearance, how it must be flown, and how it must be treated and respected, as well as how we stand during the Pledge and for the National Anthem. In the latest installment of this popular series, Peter Afrasiabi takes you on a fun, interesting journey through the federal laws related to our national symbols, with a look at cases involving flag desecration and flag burning and the First Amendment. We also explore the First Amendment and the challenges to the Pledge of Allegiance’s phrase “one Nation under God,” and we look at a series of cases involving the flying and display of the Confederate flag and its constitutionality.

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