Citizenship in the Nation

This Merit Badge is Required
to earn the Eagle Scout Rank

1. Explain what citizenship in the nation means and what it takes to be a good citizen of this country. Discuss the rights, duties, and obligations of a responsible and active American citizen.
   What is the Constitution of the United States? What does the Constitution do? What principles does it reflect? Why is it important to have a Constitution?
2. Do TWO of the following:
   1. Visit a place that is listed as a National Historic Landmark or that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tell your counselor what you learned about the landmark or site and what you found interesting about it.
   2. Tour your state capitol building or the U.S. Capitol. Tell your counselor what you learned about the capitol, its function, and the history.
   3. Tour a federal facility. Explain to your counselor what you saw there and what you learned about its function in the local community and how it serves this nation.
   4. Choose a national monument that interests you. Using books, brochures, the Internet (with your parent's permission), and other resources, find out more about the monument. Tell your counselor what you learned, and explain why the monument is important to this country's citizens.
   List the six purposes for creating the United States Constitution set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution. How do these purposes affect your family and community?
3. Watch the national evening news five days in a row OR read the front page of a major daily newspaper five days in a row. Discuss the national issues you learned about with your counselor. Choose one of the issues and explain how it affects you and your family.
   List the three branches of the United States government. Explain:
   1. The function of each branch of government
   2. Why it is important to divide powers among different branches
   3. How each branch "checks" and "balances" the others
   4. How citizens can be involved in each branch of government.
4. Discuss each of the following documents with your counselor. Tell your counselor how you feel life in the United States might be different without each one.
   1. Declaration of Independence
   2. Preamble to the Constitution
   3. The Constitution
   4. Bill of Rights
   5. Amendments to the Constitution
   Discuss the importance of:
   1. Declaration of Independence
   2. The Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution) and the 14th Amendment
   3. The traditional United States motto "E Pluribus Unum."
5. List the six functions of government as noted in the preamble to the Constitution. Discuss with your counselor how these functions affect your family and local community.
   Watch the national evening news for five days in a row or read the main stories in a national media organization (e.g., a newspaper or news website) for five days in a row. Discuss the national issues that you learned about with your counselor. Choose one issue and explain how it affects you, your family, and community.
6. With your counselor's approval, choose a speech of national historical importance. Find out about the author, and tell your counselor about the person who gave the speech. Explain the importance of the speech at the time it was given, and tell how it applies to American citizens today. Choose a sentence or two from the speech that has significant meaning to you, and tell your counselor why.
   Explain:
   1. Who the author was
   2. What the historical context was
   3. What difficulties the nation faced that the author wished to discuss
   4. What the author said
   5. Why the speech is important to the nation's history.
   Choose a sentence or two from the speech that has significant meaning to you, and tell your counselor why
7. Name the three branches of our federal government and explain to your counselor their functions. Explain how citizens are involved in each branch. For each branch of government, explain the importance of the system of checks and balances.
   Do TWO of the following:
   1. Visit a place that is listed as a National Historic Landmark or that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tell your counselor what you learned about the landmark or site and what you found interesting about it.
   2. Tour your state capitol building or the U.S. Capitol. Tell your counselor what you learned about the capitol, its function, and the history.
   3. Tour a federal facility. Explain to your counselor what you saw there and what you learned about its function in the local community and how it serves this nation.
   4. Choose a national monument that interests you. Using books, brochures, the internet (with your parent's permission), and other resources, find out more about the monument. Tell your counselor what you learned, and explain why the monument is important to this country's citizens.
8. Name your two senators and the member of Congress from your congressional district. Write a letter about a national issue and send it to one of these elected officials, sharing your view with him or her. Show your letter and any response you receive to your counselor.
   Name your representatives in the United States Congress. Write a letter to your representative in Congress explaining your views on a national issue. Show your letter, along with any response you receive, to your counselor your letter and any response you might receive to your counselor.

BSA Advancement ID#: 3
Scoutbook ID#: 25
Requirements last updated in: 2022
Pamphlet Publication Number: 35871
Pamphlet Stock (SKU) Number: 655629
E-Book Stock (SKU) Number: 000000
Pamphlet Copyright Date: 2022

Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the badge that includes these requirements.