The flag of the United States of America often referred to as the American flag is the national flag of the United States. It consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) altemating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton ( referred to specifically as the union) bearing fifty small, white, five pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows, where rows of six stars (top and bottom) altemate with rows of five stars. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states of the United States of America.