Seal of the President of the United States facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Seal of the President of the United States of America
Armiger	President of the United States
Adopted	Unknown (current definition from 1945)
Crest	Behind and above the eagle a radiating glory Or, on which appears an arc of thirteen cloud puffs proper, and a constellation of thirteen mullets argent
Blazon	Paleways of thirteen pieces argent and gules, a chief azure
Supporters	An American eagle displayed holding in his dexter talon an olive branch and in his sinister a bundle of thirteen arrows all proper, and in his beak a white scroll inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM sable
Motto	E pluribus unum
Other elements	The whole surrounded by white stars arranged in the form of an annulet with one point of each star outward on the imaginary radiating center lines, the number of stars conforming to the number of stars in the union of the Flag of the United States
Use	On documents from the U.S. President to the U.S. Congress, and as a symbol on presidential vehicles, podiums, and other places

The Seal of the President of the United States is a special symbol. It is used to show that something comes from the President of the United States. You might see it on important letters the president sends to the U.S. Congress. It also stands for the presidency itself.

The main picture on the seal is based on the Great Seal of the United States. This design is the official symbol, or coat of arms, of the U.S. presidency. You can also find this seal on the presidential flag.

What Does the Seal Look Like?

The Seal of the President has several important parts:

• The Eagle: At the center is a large American eagle. It is shown with its wings spread wide.
• Olive Branch and Arrows: The eagle holds an olive branch in its right claw. This branch has 13 leaves and 13 olives, symbolizing peace. In its left claw, the eagle holds a bundle of 13 arrows, which stand for strength and war.
• The Motto: In the eagle's beak, there is a white scroll. On the scroll, it says "E pluribus unum". This Latin phrase means "Out of many, one." It reminds us that the United States was formed from many states joining together.
• The Shield: On the eagle's chest is a shield. It has 13 red and white stripes. At the top of the shield is a blue bar. The 13 stripes represent the original 13 states.
• Stars and Clouds: Above the eagle's head, there is a bright light, like a halo. Inside this light, there are 13 clouds and 13 stars. These also represent the original 13 states.
• Outer Ring of Stars: Around the whole design, there is a circle of white stars. The number of stars matches the number of states in the Flag of the United States. This means the number of stars changes as new states join the country.

Where Is the Seal Used?

The Seal of the President is a very important symbol. It is used in many official ways:

• Official Documents: It marks important papers from the president.
• Presidential Items: You can see it on things like the president's car or the podium where the president gives speeches.
• Presidential Flag: It is also a key part of the flag that represents the president.

The current design of the seal was officially defined in 1945.

Images for kids

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  A member of the White House Communications Agency (WHCA) placing the seal on the president's lectern, September 2003

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  The Presidential Seal podium plaque, April 2019

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  Reverse of the Kennedy Half dollar, 1964–1975, 1977–present

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  Dorsett seal, reversed photo

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  Fillmore's specification

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  1850 seal design

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  "The Old Seal", possibly from the 1840s

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  Hayes coat of arms

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  The Bailey Banks & Biddle print used during discussions; annotations from McCandless are on the right

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  Illustration from the 1945 executive order, with 48 stars

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  Illustration from the 1960 executive order

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  The Presidential Seal as depicted in National Treasure: Book of Secrets. This is a modification of a Great Seal graphic, not a presidential seal.

See also

In Spanish: Sello del presidente de los Estados Unidos para niños