CHAPTER 3.

MARSHALL ISLANDS FLAG

Arrangement of Sections

Section
§301. Short title. 
§302. The official flag of the Republic: specifications. 
§303. Display of official flag. 
§304. Manner of display, other than from flagstaff. 
§305. Same, with other flags. 
§306. Same, hoisting, lowering and half‑staff. 
§307. Same, staff suspended from a wall.
§308. Same, special circumstances.
§309. Same, prohibitions.
§310. Mending, cleaning, storage and destruction of the flag.
§311. Saluting the flag of the Republic.
§312. Injunction.

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An Act to specify and declare an official flag for the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Commencement: June 12, 1979
Source: M.I. Code(l975)
 P.L. 1979‑1

§301. Short title.

This Chapter may be cited as the "Official Flag of the Marshall Islands Act 1979".

§302. The official flag of the Republic; specifications.

There is hereby adopted an official flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

(1) The official flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall be blue with two (2) contiguous trapezoidal bars extending from the lower left of the flag, diagonally across to the upper right of the flag. The top bar shall be orange, and the bottom bar shall be white. The union of the flag, in the upper left of the flag, shall be a white star of twenty‑four (24) points; the two (2) points which are parallel to the fly shall be longer than the remaining twenty (20) points. Points are fifteen (15) degrees apart. The union is located equidistant from the left edge, the top edge and the top of the orange bar.

(2) The colors used in the design of the official flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall be of a hue authorized by Executive Order of the Cabinet, based upon the color identification system of the United States Bureau of Standards.

(3) The following are official proportions for all flags bearing the design of the official flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands:

Hoist of flag 1
Fly of flag 1.9
Outer union diameter, point to point .620
Inner union diameter, point to point .444
Diameter of inner circle of union .196
Width of white bar at left edge .016
Width of orange bar at left edge .0I6
Width of white bar at right edge .392
Width of orange bar at right edge .392
[M.I. Code (1975), §2.500; P.L. 1979‑1, §2.]

§303. Display of official flag: times, places and occasions.

(1) The flag shall not be displayed outdoors between sunset and sunrise, unless flown from a stationary flagstaff not less than twenty‑five (25) feet in height, and the flag is illuminated.

(2) The flag shall be displayed daily, on or near every governmental building, or in the case of a complex of governmental buildings, from the main building of the complex.

(3) The flag shall be displayed at each polling place on each election day during the hours the polling place is open for voting.

(4) The flag, having a hoist of not less than twenty‑four (24) inches, shall be displayed in each school classroom during each day school is in session

(5) The flag shall be displayed each day in the chamber of the Nitijela, in each courtroom, in the office of the President, and in the office of every officer of the Government of the Marshall Islands, who is the official representative of the Government.

(6) The flag shall be displayed at each official public function sponsored by the Government of the Marshall Islands. [M.I. Code (1975), §2.501; P.L. §1979‑1, §2.]

§304. Manner of display; other than from flagstaff.

When displayed other than from a flagstaff, the flag shall be suspended so it hangs free of folds.

(1) When suspending a flag against a wall or other background support, the union shall be to the top and left as one faces the flag.

(2) When suspended freely, off of a wall or other background support, the union shall be to the north when the body of the audience or spectators, or traffic is situated or moving in an easterly or westerly direction. It shall be to the east when the body of the audience, or spectators, or traffic, is situated or moving in a northerly or southerly direction.

(3) When suspending a flag against a wall or other background support whenever an audience or spectators are to be addressed, the flag shall be above and behind the speaker's position at the back of the stage or dais facing the audience or spectators.

(4) When suspended freely, the flag shall be above and to the front of the audience or spectators.

(5) When suspended freely, and the audience or spectators surround the focus of their attention, the flag shall be suspended above the focus of attention with the union to the north.

(6) When suspended freely, and the audience or spectators surround the focus of their attention, but not completely encircling the focus of attention, the flag shall be suspended above the opening between the encircling audience or spectators. [M.I. Code (1975), §2.502; P.L. 1979‑1, §2.]

§305. Same; with other flags.

(1) When displayed with another flag, against a wall, from crossed staffs, the flag of the Republic shall be in front of the other flag and shall be to the left as one faces the wall and the flags.

(2) When displayed with flags of other nations, all flags are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. All flags should be of approximately equal size. When displayed in an odd‑numbered group of flags, the flag of the Republic shall be in the center. When displayed in a group of even‑numbered flags, the flag shall be to the left, as one faces the flags from the front.

(3) When displayed with other flags, except flags of other nations, no flag shall be flown at or above the height of the flag of the Republic, nor shall any flag be displayed forward of the flag of the Republic, nor shall any flag be in line and to the right of the flag of the Republic (i.e., to the left as one faces the flag from the front). When displayed in an odd‑numbered group of flags, the flag of the Republic shall be in the center, forward or higher than the other flags. When displayed in an even‑numbered group of flags, the flag shall be to the left, as one faces the flags from the front, forward or higher than the other flags. [M.I. Code (1975), §2.503; P. L. 1979‑1, §2.]

§306. Same; hoisting, lowering and half‑staff.

(1) The flag of the Republic shall always be hoisted quickly and lowered slowly.

(2) Stationary flagstaffs shall be of a height which is at least three times the measure of the fly of the flag.

(3) The flag of the Republic may be flown at half‑staff only upon authorization of the Cabinet, promulgated by Executive Order, and only from a stationary flagstaff. When the flag is to be flown at half‑staff, it shall first be hoisted to the peak for a moment, then lowered slowly to the half‑staff position. The flag shall be raised to the peak again, before it is lowered for the day. [M.I. Code (1975), §2.504; P.L. 1979‑1, §2.]

§307. Same; staff suspended from a wall.

When the flag of the Republic is displayed from a staff suspended from a wall, the staff shall be extended from the wall at an angle not greater than ninety (90) degrees and not less than sixty (60) degrees, which angle shall be formed by the plane of the staff and the plane of the wall above the staff. The union shall be closest to the peak of the staff. [M.I. Code (/975), §2.505; P.L. 1979‑1, §2.]

§308. Same; special circumstances.

(1) The flag of the Republic may be used to cover a casket, but only with the authorization of the Cabinet, promulgated by Executive Order. When used to cover a casket, the flag shall be placed so that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder of the decedent. The flag shall be lowered into the grave with the casket, and shall not be permitted to touch the ground.

(2) The flag of the Republic shall never be displayed with the union down, except as a distress signal in cases of dire emergency. [M.I. Code (1975), §2.506; P.L. 1979‑1, §2.]

§309. Same; prohibitions.

The flag of the Republic shall never:

(a) be dipped to any person or thing;

(b) be permitted to touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or structure;

(c) be carried or displayed horizontally;

(d) be used as a drapery, clothing or covering for any person or thing;

(e) be stapled, tacked or otherwise restrained against any wall, preventing it from flying or hanging freely;

(f) have placed upon it, nor any part of it, a word, figures design, picture or drawing of any nature;

(g) be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything; 

(h) be affixed to anything or displayed in a manner that would demean the dignity of its symbolism or reduce the patriotic honor to which it is entitled;

 (i) have attached to its staff, streamers or bunting unless authorized by the Cabinet, promulgated by Executive Order. [M.I. Code (1975), §2.507; P.L. 1979‑1, §2.]

§310. Mending, cleaning, storage and destruction of the flag.

(1) Whenever the flag of the Republic becomes soiled or damaged, it may be mended and may be cleaned by dry cleaning. The flag may be laundered; provided it is dried in an automatic dryer, and is not hung out to dry.

(2) Whenever the flag becomes so badly soiled, torn or faded that it is no longer fit for display, it shall be destroyed by burning.

(3) The flag shall not be stored in such manner or place that it may be easily soiled or damaged. The flag shall be folded when stored, in the following manner:

(a) fold the flag lengthwise, twice;

(b) fold over the end furthest from the union placing the railing edge to meet the top edge, forming a triangular fold;

(c) continue the triangular folding until the edge closest to the union is reached and the flag is completely folded into a compact triangular shape. [M.I. Code (/975), §2.508; P.L. 1979‑1, §2.]

§311. Saluting the flag of the Republic.

(1) During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag, or when the flag is carried in a parade or procession. all persons present should face the flag, stand at attention, and salute as the flag passes.

(2) Those in uniform of military, police or other uniformed government service should render a military salute. A man not in uniform should remove his headdress in his right hand, placing it over his heart.

(3) A man without a headdress, or a woman, should place his or her right hand over the heart.

(4) Aliens should stand at attention.

(5) The salute should be held until the hoisting or lowering ceremony is completed or until the flag, in a parade or procession, passes. [M.I. Code (1975), §2.509; P.L. 1979‑1, §2.]

§312. Injunction.

Any person who willfully or negligently repeatedly violates any of Sections 301 through 311 of this Chapter, may be enjoined from further violation, upon petition of the Attorney‑General, by the High Court of the Republic. [M.1. Code (1975), §2.510; P.L. 1979‑1, §2.][Note: Section (1) of this Chapter was added to conform this Chapter to the statutory format used in this Revised Code. P.L. 1979‑1, § 2. codified §§ (302) thorough (312).]