4 U.S.C. § 4 Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag; Manner of Delivery

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: prefLabel,label,title,shortLabel
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-19 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/06/2023)
• Citation: 4 U.S.C. § 4

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans may render the military salute in the manner provided for persons in uniform.

Cite as 4 U.S.C. § 4

Source: Added <actcitation href="" statecd="US" sessionyear="1998" actaltid="105-225" description="To revise, codify, and enact without substantive change certain general and permanent laws, related to patriotic and national observances, ceremonies, and organizations, as title 36, United States Code, "Patriotic and National Observances,...">Pub. L. 105-225</actcitation>, §2(a), Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1494; amended Pub. L. 107-293, §2(a), Nov. 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 2060; Pub. L. 113-66, div. A, title V, §586, Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 777.</note></notes-src>

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 4/20/2018

<TABLE> <TR><TD colspan="3">HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>Revised <para>Section</para> </TD> <TD>Source (U.S. Code)</TD> <TD>Source (Statutes at Large)</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>4</TD> <TD>36:172.</TD> <TD>June 22, 1942, ch. 435, §7, 56 Stat. 380; Dec. 22, 1942, ch. 806, §7, 56 Stat. 1077; Dec. 28, 1945, ch. 607, 59 Stat. 668; June 14, 1954, ch. 297, 68 Stat. 249; July 7, 1976, Pub. L. 94-344 (19), 90 Stat. 813.</TD> </TR> </TABLE>

CODIFICATION

Amendment by Pub. L. 107-293 reaffirmed the exact language of the Pledge, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 107-293 set out as a Reaffirmation of Language note below.

AMENDMENTS

2013- Pub. L. 113-66 inserted at end "Members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans may render the military salute in the manner provided for persons in uniform."

2002- Pub. L. 107-293 reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, 'I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.', should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute."