The Pledge of Allegiance*

*Annotated

I pledge allegiance (1)

to the Flag (2)

of the United States of America, (3)

and to the Republic (4)

for which it stands, (5)

one Nation (6)

under God, (7)

indivisible, (8)

with liberty (9)

and justice (10)

for all (11)

(1) Traitors may be punished by death. See 18 U.S.C. § 2381; e.g. William Bruce Mumford (convicted of treason and then hanged for tearing down a U.S. flag).

(2) See Mumford, supra note 1. But see Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989) (U.S. Supreme Court ruling that burning the flag of the United States is protected free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution).

(3) Name subject to change. Formerly known as "United Colonies."

(4) Control of said Republic flip-flops between those who wish to preserve the system as-is and those who wish to make the system more equitable. Labels subject to change.

(5) No secession allowed (sorry Texas), but representation not guaranteed.

(6) Includes at least 1990 sub-divisions!

(7) The Christian one. Others subject to additional screening. Odds of your God being accepted subject to change.

(8(a)) Now divided into 50 states, a single federal district, and fourteen territories (five inhabited, nine not-inhabited)!

(8(b)) See supra note 6.

(9(a)) Liberty currently suspended for five million five hundred thousand six hundred (5,500,600) individuals that are "under the supervision of adult correctional systems in the United States" (wording provided by United States Department of Justice).

(9(b)) We have now reduced the population of Guantanamo Bay down to only 30 people without the most basic liberties (with plans to reduce further)! But see CIA Black Sites (estimated to exist in at least 20 locations across the globe).

(10(a)) See A Lawyer's Haiku, (Shameless self plug, you should totally check it out!)

(10(b)) Ability to seek justice from government subject to sovereign immunity. Ability to seek justice from agents of government subject to various qualified and unqualified immunities.

(10(c)) See, e.g., supra notes 2, 7, 9(a), 9(b) and infra notes 11(a), 11(b).

(11(a)) Definition of "all" subject to change. See, e.g. U.S. Const. amends. XIV, XIX.

(11(b)) "Other persons" to be counted as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation. U. S. Const. art. I, § 2. Though the individuals initially referenced in this clause have since been recategorized, this provision remains in full force.

Pictured: Happy Fourth of July everyone!**

** Relationship with the United States: It's complicated.

Dedicated to J.S., a law professor that also has a complicated relationship with the United States.