1. Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

2. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
Skills you’ll learn
US Citizenship
Charters of Freedom
Branches of Government
Important Speeches
Functions of Government
Writing your Congressional Representatives
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

3. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
Plan for the half day
Introduction and badge overview min.
US Citizenship Discussion
Charters of Freedom
Bio break [maximum 5 minutes]
Branches of Government
Six Functions of Government
Final Discussion
Reserve [20 minutes]
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

4. How to earn a Merit Badge
Read the Requirements
You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated -- no more and no less.
If it says "show or demonstrate," that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn't enough.
The same thing holds true for such words as "make," "list," "in the field," and "collect," "identify," and "label."
Meritbadge.org – requirements, workbooks, reference links (very helpful)
Use the workbook (not required, but helpful)
Read the MB booklet
Listen and participate in class
If you don’t know, say so and ask, don’t guess
The goal here is to demonstrate command of the subject
no one knows it all
You can finish up the requirements anytime – no time limit
But: requirements can change at any time
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

5. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
Remember…
Earning a MB is a
Learning Experience
When you do more
than is required,
you benefit
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

6. Citizenship in the Nation MB Requirements
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.
Do TWO of the following:
a. 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.
b. Tour your state capitol building or the U.S. Capitol. Tell your counselor what you learned about the capitol, its function, and the history.
c. 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.
d. 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.
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.
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

7. Citizenship in the Nation MB Requirements
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.
a. Declaration of Independence
b. Preamble to the Constitution
c. The Constitution
d. Bill of Rights
e. Amendments to the Constitution
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.
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.
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.
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.
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

8. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
US Citizenship
Why is it important?
Military Protection
Individual Rights and Freedoms
Standard of Living
What does it mean to you?
What type of Government do we have in the US?
Democracy?
Monarchy?
Republic?
Parliamentary?
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

9. How to become a US Citizen?
Natural Born Citizen
Parents are US citizens
Born in US
Naturalized Citizen
Earn citizenship by working five years in the US,
pass citizenship exam,
swear an oath to the US
In the Oath of Citizenship, swear to defend the Constitution and laws of the US and, when required by the law,
to bear arms on behalf of the U.S. and/or perform noncombatant service.
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

10. What are the rights, duties, and obligations of U.S. citizenship:
Vote
Bill of Rights – first 10 amendments of constitution
Many other rights from constitution, laws, and court rulings
Duties
Serve on Juries
Public Safety
Participate (stay involved, express your views, etc.)
Obligations
Pay taxes
Male U.S. citizens are required to register with the Selective Service System at age 18 for possible conscription into the armed forces.
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

11. Life in Other Countries
North Korea
Citizens can not vote
Public Speech severely limited
Saudi Arabia
Iran
Ruled by Muslim law (limited speech, assembly, candidates “approved” by mullahs)
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

12. How do we amend the constitution?
Two ways:
Passed by Congress, signed by President and ratified by ¾ of the states
10,000 amendments proposed to Congress, most fail
33 have passed, 27 of these have been ratified
6 have failed to gain the ¾ state ratification
4 could still be ratified
Constitutional Convention
Two-thirds of the State legislatures may call a Constitutional Convention to consider one or more amendments.
This second method has never been used
It is unclear exactly how, in practice, a Constitutional Convention would work
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

13. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
Review
What are the rights of Citizenship?
What are the duties?
What are the obligations?
What does it take to be a good citizen?
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

14. 3. Read the front page of a major daily newspaper five days in a row.
Read the front page of national newspapers for one week
USA Today
Washington Post
Washington Times
New York Times
Wall Street Journal
New York Post
Discuss the national issues you learned about with your counselor.
Choose one of the issues and explain how it affects you and your family.
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

15. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
How To
Read the Headlines
Headlines are often deceptive – made to sell papers
Notice the ‘by line’
author, date, location & affiliation
Check out the photos
Read captions
Skim the story
Read the stories that interest you in detail
Consider the impacts on your family
You should always use multiple sources for news to get all stories and some balance
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

16. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
Discuss
What are the national issues that you read about?
Name one that will impact you and your family
How?
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

17. 4. Discuss our Founding Documents
Declaration of Independence
Established the 13 American Colonies as a Sovereign nation
b. Preamble to the Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
c. The Constitution
Defines our Government
Limits the Government’s Power
d. Bill of Rights
1st ten amendments of the Constitution
Freedom of expression, religion, assembly, press, avoid self incrimination, trial by peers, and much more
e. Amendments to the Constitution
Allows for changes and flexibility
There are 27 amendments to our constitution
Most recent amendment was ratified in 1992
“No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened. “
Tell your counselor how you feel life in the United States might be different without each one.
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

18. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
Challenge Question
After the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 and before the US Constitution was drafted September 17, 1787,
What Documents Governed the US?
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19. 5. Six Functions of Government
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.
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

20. What do these functions mean?
A more perfect union
The new Government in the Constitution is not perfect
Stronger centralized Federal Government
establish justice,
Create a Federal system of justice
insure domestic tranquility,
Peace at home – authority to quell rebellions and prevent violent conflict between governments at the lower levels such as between the states
provide for the common defense,
Centralize military defense for all states
promote the general welfare, and
Congress should pass laws that act in a general best interest of a nation
secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity
Freedoms for the people now and ongoing forever
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21. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
The American Journey
Decentralized Government (1776)
Articles of Confederation
Colonies had all the rights
Distrust of kings/central government
Stronger Federal Government (1788)
US Constitution
Balanced power between small and large states
Protections for states
US Civil War (1865)
Stronger Federal Government
Made the Constitution binding and permanent
States could not succeed from the union
Federal Government is superior to State Government
Today (2009)
Cooperative Federalism
Federal Government gives money to states for cooperation
Federal Government
Transition
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22. 6. A speech of national historical importance
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.
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

23. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
Suggested speeches:
Abraham Lincoln “Gettysburg Address”
November 19, 1863
John F. Kennedy “Inaugural Address”
January 20, 1961
Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, “I have a dream”
August 28, 1963
Woodrow Wilson “War Message”
April 2, 1917
George Washington “Farwell Address”
September 19, 1796
Franklin Delano Roosevelt “Infamy Speech”
December 8, 1941
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

24. 7. Branches of Government
Name the three branches of our federal government and explain to your counselor their functions.
Executive
President & Cabinet
Departments
Legislative
Congress: House and Senate
General Accounting Office
Library of Congress
Judicial
Federal Courts
Supreme Court
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

25. Explain how citizens are involved in each branch.
Executive
People interact with Government agencies
Vote for President
Write to Government officials
Legislative
Writing you congressman
Voting for congressional representatives
Members of House and Senate
Public Hearings
Judicial
Bring court cases
Serve on juries
Stand trial
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26. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
Checks & Balances
For each branch of government, explain the importance of the system of checks and balances.
President has veto power over any legislation
Congress can override President with 2/3 majority
Congress approves executive appointments by President
Supreme Court can invalidate any law or part of a law as unconstitutional
President appoints judges including Supreme Court
Senate approves all Federal judge appointments
Congress can amend the constitution
Shares Power
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27. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
Name your Congressman
Can you name Maryland’s Senators?
How many Senators does Maryland have?
Can you name our Congressional Representative?
What is our Congressional District?
What part of Maryland does that cover?
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

28. 8. Write your Congressional Representative
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.
111th Congress
Maryland Senators:
Sen. Barbara Mukulski
503 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC (202)
Sen. Benjamin Cardin
509 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC (202)
8th Congressional District Congressman:
Hon. Chris Van Hollen Phone: (202) Fax: (202)
Web site:
US Mail Address: Capitol Hill Office
1707 Longworth H.O.B. Washington, DC 20515
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

29. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
How to
Introduce yourself
Who you are, where you live, how old you are
Why you’re writing
Boy Scout merit badge
Learn about Government
Name the issue that concerns you
Ask what his/her position is on this issue
Ask for a brief response
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

30. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
Issues
Deficit Spending by Congress
Spending more than we take in in taxes
Adding to the National Debt
Deficit is trillions of $s
Will be paid by your children
National Health Care
Could flood the system
May lead to rationing health care
Will add to national debt
Doctors will leave the system
Private insurance will be destroyed by public insurance
Pollution
Cap & Trade legislation
How will other countries participate
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31. Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
More issues
Economy
Stimulus isn’t working fast enough
Need for tax cuts
War in Afghanistan
Problems with Pakistan hideouts
When will it end?
Iran building nuclear weapons
Korea threatening US
Space Program ending for US
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32. Write your letter Bring the response to me for the final signoff
Troop 944 Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

33. Thank you for coming
Great Job.