A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress and the States to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

failedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

18 July 1989

Last action

19 October 1989 · Vote

Status

Failed of passage in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51-48. Record Vote No: 251.

Sponsors

Sen. Dole, Robert J. [R-KS], Sen. Dixon, Alan J. [D-IL], Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC], Sen. Heflin, Howell [D-AL], Sen. Wilson, Pete [R-CA], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Armstrong, William L. [R-CO], Sen. Bentsen, Lloyd M. [D-TX], Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO], Sen. Boschwitz, Rudy [R-MN], Sen. Breaux, John B. [D-LA], Sen. Bryan, Richard H. [D-NV], Sen. Burdick, Quentin N. [D-ND], Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Sen. Byrd, Robert C. [D-WV], Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN], Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Sen. Cohen, William S. [R-ME], Sen. D'Amato, Alfonse [R-NY], Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO], Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ], Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE], Sen. Ford, Wendell H. [D-KY], Sen. Garn, E. J. (Jake) [R-UT], Sen. Gorton, Slade [R-WA], Sen. Gramm, Phil [R-TX], Sen. Heinz, John [R-PA], Sen. Helms, Jesse [R-NC], Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC], Sen. Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [R-KS], Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI], Sen. Lott, Trent [R-MS], Sen. Mack, Connie, III [R-FL], Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Sen. McClure, James A. [R-ID], Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK], Sen. Nickles, Don [R-OK], Sen. Nunn, Sam [D-GA], Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD], Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV], Sen. Robb, Charles S. [D-VA], Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV], Sen. Roth Jr., William V. [R-DE], Sen. Rudman, Warren [R-NH], Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL], Sen. Simpson, Alan K. [R-WY]

Subjects

Rule of law

Source updated

10 August 2026

Rule of law

Official source Download file View documents Share

Summary

Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

18 July 1989
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
18 July 1989
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
1 August 1989
Committee
Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
14 September 1989
Committee
Committee on Judiciary. Hearings concluded. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-355.
Source: Committee
21 September 1989
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden unfavorably without amendment and with a preamble. Without written report.
Source: Committee
21 September 1989
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 257.
Source: Calendars
21 September 1989
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden unfavorably without amendment and with a preamble. Without written report.
Source: Committee
6 October 1989
Floor
By Senator Biden from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 101-162. Additional and minority views filed.
Source: Floor
6 October 1989
Committee
By Senator Biden from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 101-162. Additional and minority views filed.
Source: Committee
16 October 1989
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
17 October 1989
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
18 October 1989
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
19 October 1989
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
19 October 1989
Vote
Failed of passage/not agreed to in Senate: Failed of passage in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51-48. Record Vote No: 251.
Source: Floor

Votes

19 October 1989 · Joint Resolution Defeated · On the Joint Resolution S.J.Res. 180 · Joint Resolution Defeated · Official source

Yes 51 · No 48 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 1

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Introduced in Senate · — · Download file
Reported to Senate · — · Download file

Documents

3 official files

Reported to Senate (text)

View file Download file

This file cannot be previewed here. Use View or Download.

Leesvertaling

Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

Vertaal naar

Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN
View Download Open at official source
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN
View Download Open at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Vertaal naar
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 18 July 1989
Open at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Vertaal naar
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Related records

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/senate-joint-resolution/180
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/101/sjres/180
us · 101-sjres-180 · source updated 10 August 2026