FREE FLAGS OF THE WORLD PDF Phil Clarke | none | 30 Jun 2010 | Usborne Publishing Ltd | 9781409520368 | English | London, United Kingdom National flag - Wikipedia A national flag is a flag that represents and symbolizes a given nation. It is flown by the government of that nation, but usually can also be flown by its citizens. A Flags of the World flag is typically designed with specific meanings for its colours and symbols, which may also be used separately from the flag as a symbol of the nation. The design of a Flags of the World flag is sometimes altered after the occurrence of important historical events. The burning or destruction of a national flag is a greatly symbolic act. Historically, flags originate as military standardsused as field signs. The practice of Flags of the World flags indicating the country of origin outside of the context of warfare became common with the maritime flagintroduced during the age of sailin the early 17th century. The origins of the Union Jack flag date back towhen James VI of Scotland inherited the English and Irish thrones as James Ithereby uniting the crowns of EnglandScotland and Ireland in a personal union which remained separate states. On 12 Aprila new flag to represent this regal union Flags of the World England and Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of England a red cross on a white background, known as Flags of the World George's Crossand the flag of Scotland a white saltire on a blue background, known as the Saltire or St Andrew's Crosswould be joined together, forming the flag of Great Britain and first Union Flag. With the emergence of nationalist sentiment from the late 18th century national flags began to be displayed in civilian contexts as well. Most countries of Europe adopted a national flag in the course of Flags of the World 19th and early 20th centuries, often based on older medieval war flags. The specifications of the flag of Denmark were codified inbased on Flags of the World 14th-century design. The Netherlands introduced two national flags in either an orange-white-blue or a red-white-blue tricolour; the final decision in Flags of the World of red was made in The Ottoman flag now the flag of Turkey was adopted in Other non-European powers followed the trend in the late 19th century, the flag of Japan being introduced inthat of Qing China in Also in the 19th century, most countries of South America introduced a flag as they became independent Peru inBolivia inColombia inBrazil inetc. The national flag is often, but not always, mentioned or described in a country's constitutionbut its detailed description may be delegated to Flags of the World flag law passed by the legislative, or even secondary legislation or in monarchies a decree. Thus, the national flag is mentioned briefly in the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany of "the federal flag is black-red-gold" art. The Flag of the United States is not defined in the constitution but rather in a separate Flag Resolution passed in Minor design changes of national flags are often passed on a legislative or executive level, Flags of the World substantial changes have constitutional character. The design of the flag of Serbia omitting the communist star of the flag of Yugoslavia was a decision made in the Serbian constitutional referendumbut the adoption of a coat of arms within the flag was based on a government "recommendation" inadopted legislatively in and again subject to a minor design change in The Flag of the United States underwent numerous changes because the number of stars represents the number of states, proactively defined in a Flag Act of to the effect that "on the admission of every new state into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag"; it was changed for the last time in Flags of the World the accession of Hawaii. A change in national flag is often due to a change of regime, especially following a civil war or revolution. In such cases, the military origins of the national flag and its connection to political ideology form of governmentmonarchy vs. In such cases national flags acquire the status of a political symbol. The flag of Germanyfor instance, was a tricolour of black-white-red under the German Empireinherited from the North German Flags of the World The Weimar Republic that followed adopted a black-red-gold tricolour. Nazi Germany went back to black-white-red inand black-red-gold was reinstituted by the two successor states, West Germany and East Germanywith East Germany's flag being defaced with Communist symbols, following World War II. It was used again by National Transitional Council and by anti-Gaddafi forces during the Libyan Civil War in and officially adopted by the Libyan interim Constitutional Declaration. There are three distinct types of national flag for use on land, and three for use at sea, though many countries use identical designs for several and sometimes all of these types of flag. On land, there is a distinction between civil flags FIAV symbolstate flagsand war or military flags. Civil flags may be flown by anyone regardless of whether they are linked to government, whereas state flags are those used officially by government agencies. War flags also called military flags are used by military organizations such as Armies, Marine Corps, or Air Forces. In practice, many countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have identical flags for these three purposes; national flag is sometimes used as a vexillological term to refer to such a three-purpose flag. In a number of countries, however, and notably those in Latin Americathere is a distinct difference between civil and state flags. In most cases, the civil flag is a simplified version of the state flag, with the difference often being the presence of a coat of arms on the state flag that is absent from the civil flag. Very few countries use a war flag that differs from the state flag. Swallow-tailed flags are used as war flags and naval ensigns in Nordic countries and charged versions as presidential or royal standards. The Philippines does not have Flags of the World distinctive war flag in this usual sense, but the flag of the Philippines is legally unique in that it is flown with the red stripe on top when the country is in a state of war, rather than the conventional blue. Civil flag of Austria. State flag of Austria. The flag that indicates nationality on a ship is called an ensign. As with the national flags, there are three varieties: the civil ensignflown by private vessels; state ensigns also called government ensigns ;flown by government ships; and war ensigns also called naval ensigns ;flown by naval vessels. The ensign is flown from an ensign -staff at the stern of the ship, or from a gaff when underway. Both these positions are superior to any other on the ship, even though the masthead is higher. In the absence of a gaff the ensign may be flown from the yardarm. See Maritime flags. National flags may also be flown by aircraft and the land vehicles of important officials. In the case of aircraft, those flags are usually painted on, and those are usually to be painted on in the position as if they were blowing in the wind. In some countries, such as the United States and Canada except for the Royal Canadian Navy's Ensignthe national ensign is identical to the national flag, while in others, such as the United Kingdom and Japanthere are specific ensigns for maritime use. Most countries do not have a separate state ensign, although the United Kingdom is a rare exception, in having a red ensign for civil use, a white ensign as Flags of the World naval ensign, and a blue Flags of the World for government non-military vessels. There is a great deal of protocol involved in the proper display of national flags. A general rule is that the national flag should be flown in the position of honour, and not in an inferior position to any other flag although some countries make an exception for royal standards. The following rules are typical of the conventions when flags are flown on land:. Most flags are hung vertically by rotating the flag pole. However, some countries have specific protocols for this purpose or even have special flags for vertical hanging; usually rotating some elements of the flag — such as the coat of arms — so that they are seen in an upright position. Examples of countries that have special protocol for vertical hanging are: CanadaCzech RepublicGreeceIsraelthe PhilippinesSaudi ArabiaSouth Africaand the United States reverse always showing ; and the United Kingdom obverse always showing. Flags of the World of countries that have special designs Flags of the World vertical hanging are: AustriaGermanyHungaryMexicoMontenegroPolandand Slovakia coat of arms must be rotated to normal position ; Cambodia coat of Flags of the World must be rotated and blue strips are narrowed ; Flags of the World coat of arms must be rotated and reverse always showing ; Liechtenstein crown must be rotated. Vertical variation of the flag of Slovakia. Vertical variation of the flag of Cambodia. Vertical variation of the flag of Dominica. Vertical variation of the flag of Liechtenstein. The Flags of the World and practice of designing flags is known as vexillography. The design of national flags has seen a number of customs become apparent. All national flags are rectangular, except Flags of the World the flag of Nepal.