Omar Bennett
The American Armed Forces have a long and complex history, with a variety of flags being flown throughout the years. From the Star-Spangled Banner Flag to the Flag of New England, the American Armed Forces have carried many flags into battle. However, the question remains: do they fight for the Constitution or the flag? The answer lies in the Oath of Allegiance, which states that officers of the Armed Forces swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This suggests that their primary allegiance is to the Constitution, with the flag being a symbol of their struggles and values.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who do the American Armed Forces fight for? | The Constitution |
| Who do the American Armed Forces pledge allegiance to? | The Flag of the United States of America |
| Who do officers of the American Armed Forces pledge allegiance to? | The Constitution |
| Who do the American Armed Forces salute? | The Flag |
| Who do the American Armed Forces take orders from? | The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States |
| Who do the American Armed Forces represent? | The President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Under Secretaries of Defense, Assistant Secretaries of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Chief of the Military Services |
| What is the name of 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." |
| What is the Oath of Allegiance for officers of the American Armed Forces? | "I, A.B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." |
| When is the American Flag displayed? | On all days, especially on New Year's Day, Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, National Vietnam War Veterans Day, Mother's Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Father's Day, Independence Day, National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, Labor Day, Constitution Day, Columbus Day, Navy Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and other days as proclaimed by the President of the United States, the birthdays of States, and on State holidays. |
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What You'll Learn
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
The current version of the pledge reads: "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." The phrase "under God" was added in 1954 at the urging of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who signed it into law, and it is worth noting that this addition sparked some controversy.
The Pledge of Allegiance is typically recited while standing at attention, facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men who are not in uniform are expected to remove any non-religious headdress and hold it at the left shoulder, with their hand over their heart. Those in uniform, including members of the Armed Forces, should remain silent and render a military salute.
The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance is a long-standing tradition in American society, with thousands of schoolchildren and adults reciting it annually. While it is voluntary, and no person can be compelled to recite it, it holds significant symbolic value and is seen as an expression of patriotism and unity.
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The Oath of Allegiance
The current text of the Oath of Allegiance is as follows:
> I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.
The phrase "so help me God" is optional, and the words "on oath" can be replaced with "solemnly affirm". The current text of the Oath of Citizenship is established in the form of an administrative regulation, which means that the CIS could technically change the text of the oath at any time, as long as the new text adheres to the "five principles" mandated by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1953.
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The President's power to employ the armed forces
The President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of the country's armed forces. This means that the President is the ultimate tribunal for the enforcement of the rules and regulations that Congress adopts for the government of the forces. In the absence of attempts by Congress to limit their power, the President may establish and prescribe the jurisdiction and procedure of military commissions and tribunals in territory occupied by the US Armed Forces.
The President may employ the armed forces to restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States when, as a result of a natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition, the President determines that domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order.
The President may also employ the armed forces to suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy that hinders the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws. This power was invoked, for example, by President Truman in 1945 when he ordered the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The Posse Comitatus Act (PCA) specifically states that it shall not be lawful to employ any part of the Army of the United States to execute the laws unless expressly authorised by the Constitution or by an Act of Congress. However, this does not apply to the District of Columbia National Guard, which has historically operated as the equivalent of a state militia under Title 32 of the United States Code.
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The Posse Comitatus Act
The PCA specifically states:
> "Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for no more than two years, or both."
In British and American law, a posse comitatus is a group of people who are mobilized by the sheriff or another law officer to suppress lawlessness in the county. The PCA prohibits the use of soldiers instead of civilians for this purpose.
The PCA was a response to the military occupation of the former Confederate States by the United States Army during the twelve years of Reconstruction (1865-1877) following the American Civil War. During this time, paramilitary groups in the former Confederate States sought to suppress African-American political power and return the South to rule by the predominantly white Democratic Party.
The PCA has been updated several times since its enactment, including in 1956, 1981, and 2021. The original Act only applied to the United States Army, but the 1956 amendment expanded its scope to the United States Air Force. The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 further expanded the PCA to cover the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Space Force. The United States Coast Guard is not included in the PCA, as it has explicit statutory authority to enforce maritime law.
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The Flag Code
- New Year's Day, January 1st
- Inauguration Day, January 20th
- Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, the third Monday in January
- Lincoln's Birthday, February 12th
- Washington's Birthday, the third Monday in February
- National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29th
- Easter Sunday (variable)
- Mother's Day, the second Sunday in May
- Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May
- Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May
- Flag Day, June 14th
- Father's Day, the third Sunday in June
- Independence Day, July 4th
- National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27th
- Labor Day, the first Monday in September
- Constitution Day, September 17th
- Columbus Day, the second Monday in October
- Navy Day, October 27th
- Veterans Day, November 11th
- Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day, December 25th
Additionally, the code includes instructions for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, which should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When the flag is hoisted or lowered, or when it passes in a parade, those in uniform should render the military salute, while others stand at attention with their right hand over their heart.
- It should never be allowed to touch the ground, floor, water, or any other object beneath it.
- It should not be dipped towards any person or thing, except in response to a salute from a ship of a foreign nation.
- It should never be carried flat or horizontally but always aloft and free.
- It should not be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery, and should be allowed to fall freely.
- It should not be used for advertising or embroidered on any articles.
- It should be displayed from sunrise to sunset, unless a patriotic effect is desired, in which case it may be displayed 24 hours if properly illuminated.
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Frequently asked questions
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag is: "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." It should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.
No, members of the American Armed Forces swear an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. On 13 May 1884, Congress enacted the oath, which is still taken by every officer of the U.S. Armed Forces: "I, A.B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
The flag is a symbol of the nation and the values it represents. It is often carried into battle by American troops and displayed on significant days such as Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Flag Day. The American Armed Forces also have their own unique flags to represent their authority and/or command.
The American Armed Forces derive their authority from the Constitution and are sworn to defend it. The Constitution grants Congress the power to raise and support armies, make rules concerning captures on land and water, and provide and maintain a navy.
