<P> Congressional sessions open with the recital of the Pledge , as do many government meetings at local levels , and meetings held by many private organizations . All states except Hawaii , Iowa , Vermont and Wyoming require a regularly - scheduled recitation of the pledge in the public schools , although the Supreme Court has ruled in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette that students can not be compelled to recite the Pledge , nor can they be punished for not doing so . In a number of states , state flag pledges of allegiance are required to be recited after this . </P>
when should the pledge of allegiance be recited
Congressional sessions government meetings at local levels meetings held by many private organizations All states except Hawaii , Iowa , Vermont and Wyoming require a regularly - scheduled recitation of the pledge in the public schools