 Citizenship in the Nation 
This Merit Badge requires 2 sessions to complete.
The Pathways to Eagle preparation work items for the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge are: 5, 6, 7, 8
- Items in RED - MUST be completed before the session starts to make it possible to complete the merit badge at Pathways to Eagle. Bring proof of completion (item, written work, note, photo, etc.)
- Items in GREEN - Can be completed before the session starts or done during merit badge session.
- Items in BLACK - MUST be ready to demonstrate your knowledge of these requirements during the merit badge session.
Scouts are strongly encouraged to use a Merit Badge worksheet to show that they have done the preparation work for the merit badge.
Download the workbook for the
Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
in Adobe PDF format from the U.S. Scouting Service Project website.
Scouts MUST be able to discuss any items completed as preparation works or as written work.
Note: Some requirements contain items that fall into more that one category and are listed as the higher category.
1. |
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. |
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. |
List the three branches of the United States
government. Explain: |
| a. |
The function of each branch of government |
| b. |
Why it is important to divide powers among different
branches |
| c. |
How each branch "checks" and "balances" the others |
| d. |
How citizens can be involved in each branch of
government. |
4. |
Discuss the importance of: |
| a. |
Declaration of Independence |
| b. |
The Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments to the
Constitution) and the 14th Amendment |
| c. |
The traditional United States motto “E Pluribus
Unum.” |
5. |
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. Explain: |
| *. |
Choose a sentence or two from the speech that has
significant meaning to you, and tell your counselor
why. |
| b. |
What the historical context was |
| c. |
What difficulties the nation faced that the author
wished to discuss |
| e. |
Why the speech is important to the nation’s history. |
7. |
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.
Capital. 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. |
8. |
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 might
receive, to your counselor. |
|
The requirements listed on this web site are believed to be correct.
The official requirements can be found in the current edition of
"Boy Scout Requirements Book 2025"
Download the workbook for the
Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
in Adobe PDF format from, The U.S. Scouting Service Project website.
|
