HJRES 4 108th Congress House Commemorations Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Congress Congressional powers Constitutional amendments Crime and Law Enforcement Flags Freedom of speech Law

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

Introduced: January 7, 2003 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 20 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jun 4, 2003

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Jun 3, 2003

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Jun 3, 2003

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 300 - 125 (Roll no. 234). (text: CR H4817)

Jun 3, 2003

DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 255 the House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Watt of North Carolina substitute amendment.

Jun 3, 2003

DEBATE - The House proceeded with two hours of debate on H.J. Res. 4.

Jun 3, 2003

Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 4 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order.

Jun 3, 2003

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 255. (consideration: CR H4817-4843)

Jun 3, 2003

Rule H. Res. 255 passed House.

Jun 2, 2003

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 255 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 4 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order.

Jun 2, 2003

Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 51.

Jun 2, 2003

Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-131.

May 21, 2003

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 13.

May 21, 2003

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

May 7, 2003

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

May 7, 2003

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

May 7, 2003

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Mar 6, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Jan 7, 2003

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jan 7, 2003

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E13)

Jan 7, 2003

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 1

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Jun 3, 2003	House · vote #234	On Passage	Passed	300–125	See who voted →

Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 failed

Amendment	Sponsor	Purpose	Status	Latest action
HAMDT 153	—	An amendment in the nature of a substitute made in order under H. Res. 255. "Not inconsistent with the first …	Failed	Jun 3, 2003

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced on January 7, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Constitutional Amendment - Grants Congress power to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag.

What's happening now June 4, 2003

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Related & companion bills 2

Bill text 4 versions

Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
Referred in Senate Formatted Text PDF
Reported in House Formatted Text PDF

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 3

Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
House of Representatives · subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
Judiciary Committee
House of Representatives
Judiciary Committee
Senate

Cosponsors 18

Aderholt, Robert B.

Alabama · Jun 2, 2003

Carter, John R.

Texas · Jun 2, 2003

McGovern, James P.

Massachusetts · Jun 2, 2003

Sessions, Pete

Texas · May 21, 2003

Blackburn, Marsha

Tennessee · May 15, 2003

Graves, Sam

Missouri · May 15, 2003

Kaptur, Marcy

Ohio · May 14, 2003

Smith, Adam

Washington · May 9, 2003

Cole, Tom

Oklahoma · Apr 3, 2003

Wicker, Roger F.

Mississippi · Apr 3, 2003

Pallone, Frank

New Jersey · Mar 27, 2003

Simpson, Michael K.

Idaho · Mar 25, 2003

Lucas, Frank D.

Oklahoma · Mar 10, 2003

Rogers, Harold

Kentucky · Mar 4, 2003

Wilson, Joe

South Carolina · Feb 13, 2003

Lynch, Stephen F.

Massachusetts · Feb 5, 2003

Capito, Shelley Moore

West Virginia · Jan 27, 2003

Issa, Darrell

California · Jan 7, 2003

Cite this page click to expand

APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 4: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-4/

MLA

"H.J. Res. 4: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-4/.

Bluebook (legal)

H.J. Res. 4, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-4/.

Markdown link

[H.J. Res. 4: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-4/)