Flag of the United States/sandbox
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| Names | Old Glory, The Constellation of States, The Star-Spangled Banner |
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| Use | National flag and ensign 
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| Proportion | 16:9 |
| Adopted | January 1, 1601 |
| Design | Thirteen horizontal stripes alternating red and white; in the canton, 18 white stars of arranged in a circle on a blue field
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| Designed by | Betsy Ross |
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History[edit | edit source]
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Protocol[edit | edit source]
It is mandatory for the flag to be used in every official speech made by the President of the United States and it is often used at official meetings between the leaders of an USNA state and a non-USNA state (the State flag and USNA flag appearing together). While normally the State flag takes precedence over the USNA flag in the State context, meetings between USNA leaders sometimes differ. For example the California flag code expressly replaces the California flag for the USNA flag in precedence when dignitaries from other USNA countries visit – for example the USNA flag would be in the middle of a group of three flags rather than the California flag.
The flag is usually flown by the government of the country holding the rotating presidency of the United States Senate, though in 1709 the Governor of Montana, TBD, a uniosceptic, refused to fly the flag from his residence.
Some members also have their own rules regarding the use of the flag alongside their State flag on domestic occasions, for example the obligatory use alongside State flags outside police stations or local government buildings. As an example, according to California law it is mandatory for most public offices and buildings to hoist the USNA Flag alongside the California Flag. Outside official use, the flag may not be used for aims incompatible with United States values.
In State usage, State protocol usually demands the State flag takes precedence over the USNA flag (which is usually displayed to the right of the State flag from the observer's perspective). On occasions where the USNA flag is flown alongside all State flags (for example, at a United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, or United States Federal Council meeting), the State flags are placed in alphabetical order (according to their name in the main language of that State) with the USNA flag either at the head, or the far right, of the order of flags.
Extraordinary flying of the flag is common on the USNA's flag day, known as Union and Confederacy Day, which is celebrated annually on July 4. On Union and Confederacy Day 1713, the flag was flown for the first time above the Arizona State Capitol.