What was the first congressional description of the United States flag called?

The first congressional description of the United States flag was called the Flag Resolution.

The Second Continental Congress passed the resolution on June 14, 1777. It specified thirteen alternating red and white stripes and a blue union containing thirteen white stars, representing a new constellation. The resolution established the national flag’s basic legal design during the Revolutionary War.

It did not specify how the stars should be arranged. As a result, early flags used several patterns, including rows, circles, and other layouts. The familiar circle of thirteen stars is commonly associated with the Betsy Ross flag, but the historical claim that Betsy Ross personally created the first U.S. flag is not firmly documented.

Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate and designer, has stronger documentary connections to flag design, although the precise origin of every early arrangement remains uncertain. Flag Day is observed annually on June 14, commemorating the 1777 congressional action rather than a later amendment to the flag.