WASHINGTON - In what Democrats called an annual GOP rite of spring, the Republican-controlled House on Tuesday passed for the fifth time in eight years an amendment to the Constitution to criminalize flag burning.

The one-line change to the Constitution--''The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States''--was approved by a 300-125 vote.

Senate passage is less likely. The constitutional amendment needs a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate and approval by three-fourths of state legislatures.

Burning an American flag shows disrespect for America, and the majority of the American people approve of legally protecting Old Glory, supporters said. ''If we allow its defacement, we allow our country's gradual decline,'' said Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio).

But many opponents say the legislation would limit free speech.

''The whole purpose of the underlying constitutional amendment is to stifle political expression that we find offensive,'' said Rep. Robert Scott (D-N.C.). ''While I agree that we should respect the flag, I do not think it is appropriate to use the criminal code to enforce our views on those who disagree with us.''

It is unlikely the GOP-controlled Senate will take up the constitutional amendment this year, said Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), one of the bill's Senate supporters. The Senate has never passed the legislation under Republican or Democratic control.

The Bush administration supports the legislation, the White House said.

Lawmakers have debated the flag amendment since a 5-4 Supreme Court decision in 1989 saying flag-burning was a protected free speech right. That ruling overturned a 1968 federal statue and flag protection laws in 48 states.

In 1990, Congress passed another law protecting the flag, but the Supreme Court that year, in another 5-4 ruling, struck it down.

Since then, the House has approved flag amendments in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001. The Senate, in votes in 1995 and 2000, came up with only 63 votes, four short of a two-thirds majority.

Among the Illinois delegation, all Republicans voted for the amendment except for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, who typically doesn't vote, along with Democratic Representatives Luis Gutierrez, William O. Lipinski and Jerry Costello.