Flag protocol in Brazil: the place of honour and ceremonial

The ceremonial of the national flag in Brazil is set out in two texts: Law 5,700 of 1 September 1971, which sets the place of honour, the order of raising and the attitude of respect, and Decree 70,274 of 9 March 1972, which approves the rules of public ceremonial and the general order of precedence. This guide brings together the protocol rules that apply when the flag is raised, carried or displayed with other flags.

The place of honour

Under article 19 of Law 5,700, in all presentations on national territory the flag takes the place of honour, understood as a position:

• central, or the one nearest the centre and to its right, when with other flags, standards or banners, in a line of poles, panóplias, shields or similar arrangements;
• out in front of other flags, when carried in formations or parades;
• to the right of rostrums, pulpits, meeting or work tables.

The sole paragraph defines the right of a group of flags as the right of a person standing by it and facing the street, the audience or, in general, the public. For someone looking from the front, this position is on the left.

The order with other flags

With an odd number of flags, the national flag is in the centre. With an even number, it is in the position nearest the centre and to its right, as defined in article 19. At the buildings in article 13 of the law, the Mercosur flag has been raised daily since Law 12,157 of 2009.

When several flags are raised or lowered at the same time, the national flag is the first to reach the top and the last to come down (article 16). For flags of other countries, article 33 has a rule of its own, covered in the guide to foreign flags in Brazil.

The law does not set an order for the state flags among themselves. Article 8 of Decree 70,274 sets the precedence among governors by the order of historical constitution of the states, which begins with Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Maranhão, Pará, Pernambuco and São Paulo.

The attitude of respect

Under article 30, at ceremonies of raising or lowering, when the flag passes in a march or procession, and while the national anthem is performed, everyone takes an attitude of respect, standing and in silence, male civilians with their heads uncovered and military personnel saluting, according to the regulations of their corps. The sole paragraph prohibits any other form of salute.

Under article 23, the flag is never dipped in salute, that is, it is not lowered or tilted as a greeting.

The flag and the anthem

Under article 25, the national anthem is performed in salute to the national flag and to the President of the Republic, the National Congress and the Supreme Federal Court, when assembled, and at the weekly solemn flag raising at schools. Since Law 13,413 of 2016, it is also performed at the opening of sports competitions organised by the bodies of the National Sports System, always in full. At ceremonies where a foreign anthem is performed, it comes first, as a courtesy, before the Brazilian national anthem (paragraph 4).

The Praça dos Três Poderes

Under article 12, the flag stays permanently at the top of a special pole on the Praça dos Três Poderes in Brasília, as a perennial symbol of the homeland in the care of the Brazilian people. It is replaced with special ceremonies on the first Sunday of every month, and the new flag reaches the top of the pole before the old one starts to come down. At the base of the pole is the inscription: "Sob a guarda do povo brasileiro, nesta Praça dos Três Poderes, a Bandeira sempre no alto – visão permanente da Pátria" (In the care of the Brazilian people, on this Square of the Three Powers, the flag always on high – permanent vision of the homeland).

The Presidential Standard

Under article 21 of Decree 70,274, as worded by Decree 7,419 of 2010, the Presidential Standard is raised at the seat of government and where the President of the Republic lives, when the President is in the Federal District, and at federal, state and municipal bodies, agencies and foundations whenever the President visits them. The same rule applies to the Standard of the Vice-President of the Republic.

Indoors

In offices, auditoriums and meeting rooms, the flag may stand in a panóplia, a stand with a base into which the poles are fitted, as described by the Memorial of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Minas Gerais. The place of honour in article 19 applies here too, to the right of the table or rostrum. When not in use, the flag is kept in a dignified place (article 20). The guides on flagpole accessories and types of flagpoles cover stands.