Adopted in 1911, the state flag of North Dakota displays a bald eagle holding an olive branch and a bundle of arrows in its talons. The eagle carries a ribbon in its beak saying E Pluribus Unum (Latin for "out of many, one") symbolizing one nation made up of many states. A shield with thirteen stripes on the eagle's breast represents the original thirteen states.

The fan-shape with thirteen stars above the bald eagle is a symbol for the birth of a new nation, the United States. The name of the state - North Dakota - appears below the eagle on a red scroll. The design is centered on a field of dark blue.

The state flag conforms to the color, design, and size of the regimental flag that was carried by North Dakota Infantry in the Spanish-American War in 1898 and Philippine Island Insurrection in 1899 (the only difference are the words "North Dakota" on the scroll below the eagle).

In 1951 a state flag commission concluded that the flag "too closely resembled the coat of arms of the United States and that the flag was not symbolic of North Dakota," but this conclusion was widely challenged and suggested change