Citizenship in The Nation

Citizenship in the Nation
Merit Badge Workbook

This workbook can help you but you still need to read the merit badge pamphlet.
The work space provided for each requirement should be used by the Scout to make notes for discussing the item with his counselor, not for
providing the full and complete answers. Each Scout must do each requirement.
No one may add or subtract from the official requirements found in Boy Scout Requirements (Pub. 33216 SKU 34765).
The requirements were last issued or revised in 2005 This workbook was updated in November 2013.
Scouts Name:__________________________________________
Unit: __________________________________________
Counselors Name: ______________________________________
Counselors Phone No.: ___________________________
http://www.USScouts.Org
http://www.MeritBadge.Org
Please submit errors, omissions, comments or suggestions about this workbook to: Workbooks@USScouts.Org
Comments or suggestions for changes to the requirements for the merit badge should be sent to: Merit.Badge@Scouting.Org
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Explain what citizenship in the nation means and what it takes to be a good citizen of this country.
What citizenship in the nation means:
We are citizens in that we owe allegiance to our government and in return our government owes us protection.
What it takes to be a good citizen:

As good citizens we contribute our personal time to our American society, our local community and our friends
and neighbors. We vote, pay our taxes, and follow the law. We ensure the security of our neighborhoods and
work places. We volunteer our time to good causes, we respect the rights of others and demand the same for
ourselves. We contribute to those less fortunate who work hard for themselves. We conduct ourselves in
accordance with American family values and respect everyones right to practice their own religion and live as
they please. We know and understand our history and live up to the ideals expressed in The Declaration of
Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Discuss the rights, duties, and obligations of a responsible and active American citizen.
Rights:
FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SPEECH, OF THE PRESS

THE RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE, PETITION, BEAR ARMS, RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL
OBEY LAWS, PAY TAXES, JURY DUTY, SERVE AS A WITNESS, REGISTER FOR THE SELECTIVE
SERVICE, VOTING, HELP SOMEONE WHEN IN NEED, GO TO WAR WHEN CALLED UPON.
Workbook Copyright 2013 - U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
Requirements Copyright, Boy Scouts of America (Used with permission.)
Scout's Name: ________________________
Duties,
Obligations:.
2. 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.
Library of Congress, Octagon House, Clara Barton House,
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.
The beautiful Maryland State House is the oldest state capitol still in continuous legislative use and is
the only state house ever to have served as the nations capitol. The Continental Congress met in the
Old Senate Chamber from November 26, 1783, to August 13, 1784. During that time, George
Washington came before Congress to resign his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental
Army and the Treaty of Paris was ratified, marking the official end of the Revolutionary War. The State
House is where the Maryland General Assembly convenes for three months each year, and the elected
leadership of the state
the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House of Delegates and
president of the Senate
all have their offices there.
Citizenship in the Nation - Merit Badge Workbook
Page. 2 of 13
Scout's Name: ________________________
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.
National Cryptologic Museum. The National Cryptologic Museum is the National Security Agencys
principal gateway to the public. It shares the Nations, as well as NSAs, cryptologic legacy and place in
world history. Located adjacent to NSA Headquarters, Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland, the Museum
houses a collection of thousands of artifacts that collectively serve to sustain the history of the
cryptologic profession. Here visitors can catch a glimpse of some of the most dramatic moments in the
history of American cryptology: the people who devoted their lives to cryptology and national defense,
the machines and devices they developed, the techniques they used, and the places where they
worked.
Fort McHenry
d. Choose a national monument that interests you. ____________________________________________________
Using books, brochures, the Internet (with your parents 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 countrys
citizens.
The only place designated a national monument and historic shrine, Fort McHenry is a star-shaped fort
best known for its role in the War of 1812 when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an
attack by the British navy. It inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner".
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.
Page. 3 of 13
Scout's Name: ________________________
Choose one of the issues and explain how it affects you and your family.
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.
a. Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second
Continental Congress, states the reasons the British colonies of North America sought independence in
July of 1776.
The declaration opens with a preamble describing the documents necessity in explaining why the
colonies have overthrown their ruler and chosen to take their place as a separate nation in the world.
b.
All men are created equal and there are certain unalienable rights that governments should never
violate. These rights include the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When a government
fails to protect those rights, it is not only the right, but also the duty of the people to overthrow that
government.
its place, the people should establish a government that is designed to protect those
Preamble
to theInConstitution
rights. Governments are rarely overthrown, and should not be overthrown for trivial reasons. In this
The
is theof
opening
to colonists
the United
Constitution.
Thegovernment.
preamble explains the
case,Preamble
a long history
abusesstatement
has led the
toStates
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a tyrannical
reasons why the Framers of the Constitution made our government a republic. By doing this, the
founding fathers replaced the Articles of Confederation. The Preamble along with the rest of the
Constitution was written over a period of about 6 weeks. The Preamble helped explain why the
Constitution was written. However, it is not the law.
c. The Constitution
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. The Constitution is made of the
Preamble and seven different articles. Together, these articles are the foundation for how the United
States government is organized. The Articles of the Constitution also explain how the federal
government interacts with the citizens, states, and people of the country.
Page. 4 of 13
Scout's Name: ________________________
d. Bill of Rights
1
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated militia.
No quartering of soldiers.
Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy.
Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial.
Right of trial by jury in civil cases.
Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.
Page. 5 of 13

9
Scout's Name: ________________________
Other rights of the people.
10 Powers reserved to the states.
e. Amendments to the Constitution

11. Restrictions of federal lawsuits
12. electors vote separately for President and Vice President
13. abolished slavery
14. made "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" citizens of the country
15. a constitutional amendment that gave African American men the right to vote
16. The constitutional amendment adopted in 1913 that explicitly permitted Congress to levy an
income tax.
Page. 6 of 13
Scout's Name: ________________________
17. direct election of senators
18. prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages
19. granted women the right to vote in 1920
20. shortened the time between the election and inauguration day, also called the "Lame Duck
Amendment," it changed the inauguration date from March 4 to January 20 for president and vice
president, and to January 3 for senators and representatives
21. repealed prohibition
22. Two term limit for President
23. amendment that gives the right of voting to citizens in Washington D.C. and that they get votes in
the electoral college
24. Prohibits poll tax in federal elections
Page. 7 of 13
Scout's Name: ________________________
25. Creates Line of Succession: President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senator Pro
Tempore, Secretary of State
26. lowered the voting age to 18 (from 21)
27. banned congress from raising its members salaries right before the next election
5. List the six functions of government as noted in the preamble to the Constitution.
Function
Discuss with your counselor how these functions affect your family and local community.
Form a more perfect Union
Establish Justice
Ensure Domestic Tranquility
Provide for the Common Defense
Page. 8 of 13
Scout's Name: ________________________

Promote the General Welfare
Secure the Blessings of Liberty
6. With your counselors approval, choose a speech of national historical importance.

Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln, 1863
Find out about the author, and tell your counselor about the person who gave the speech.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in
Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil
war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on
a great battle-field of that war.
The Gettysburg address is the most quoted speech in US history and is the most famous of Lincolns. The exact
wording of the speech is not known as the five original copies that still exist all differ slightly and differ from
contemporary newspaper texts. The speech was delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery
in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, during the American Civil War,
four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the decisive Battle of
Gettysburg.
Explain the importance of the speech at the time it was given, and tell how it applies to American citizens today.
Importance at the time:
The historical importance of the Gettysburg Address is that the Civil War as not only a struggle for the Union,
but also as a new birth of freedom that would bring equality to all of Americas people, and that would created a
unified nation where states rights were no longer dominant. The Gettysburg Address also boosted the morale of
the United States citizens in the Union during the tough times of the Civil War.
How it applies today:

The themes and values of the Gettysberg Address, namely freedom and democracy, transcend time. It is
always worth remembering the ideals upon which your nation is founded. The emphasis Lincoln places on
democracy in his final triplet, "government of the people, by the people, for the people" continues to speak to
citizens, serving as a constant reminder that we all have a part to play in ensuring our nation remains
democratic, and we have been given a voice which we should use for the betterment of the county. The
government should always act in the interests of its people - and when it does not, it is time for a change. And it
is not only about this, it is also about still honoring the dead. how we are now one nation; not divided at all.
Page. 9 of 13
Scout's Name: ________________________
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.
Branch: Executive, Judicial, Legislative
Function:
Executive Branch: Headed by the president. The president carries out federal laws
and recommends new ones, directs national defense and foreign policy, and performs
ceremonial duties. Powers include directing government, commanding the Armed
Forces, dealing with international powers, acting as chief law enforcement officer, and
vetoing laws. Legislative Branch: Headed by Congress, which includes the House of
Representatives and the Senate. The main task of these two bodies is to make the
laws. Its powers include passing laws, originating spending bills (House), impeaching
officials (Senate), and approving treaties (Senate).Judicial Branch: Headed by the
Supreme Court. Its powers include interpreting the Constitution, reviewing laws, and
deciding cases involving states rights.
Citizen Involvement:
First, citizens are involved in the three branches of the government by voting. While
federal judges are appointed by the President, and some have to have Senate
approval, voting for your candidate for President, Senator, and Representative will
insure you have a person who best represents your government and social beliefs and
ideals. Citizens are also involved by keeping their representatives informed by letter or
email or phone. Working on campaigns is another way to become involved. A citizen
can also work at the local level, city, town, and state, to make his/her ideas heard.
And, perhaps most important, citizens should become informed as to what the local,
state, and national governments are doing and how this effects the citizen at home
and how it effects our foreign policy.
Importance of Checks By creating three branches of government, the delegates built a "check and balance"
system into the Constitution. This system was built so that no one branch of our
& Balances:
government could become too powerful.
Each branch is restrained by the other two in several ways. For example, the president
may veto a law passed by Congress. Congress can override that veto with a vote of
two-thirds of both houses. Another example is that the Supreme Court may check
Congress by declaring a law unconstitutional. The power is balanced by the fact that
members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president. Those appointments
have to be approved by Congress.
Page. 10 of 13
Scout's Name: ________________________
Branch:
Function:
Importance of Checks
& Balances:
Page. 11 of 13
Scout's Name: ________________________
Branch:
Function:
Importance of Checks
& Balances:
8. Name your two senators and the member of Congress from your congressional district.
Senator:
Barbara Mikulski (term expires 2017)
Senator:
Benjamin Cardin (term expires 2019)
Member of Congress: Donna Edwards (District 4) (term expires 4 Nov 2014) Rep. Candidate - Nancy Hoyt
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.
Requirement resources can be found here:

http://www.meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Citizenship in the Nation#Requirement resources
Page. 12 of 13
Important excerpts from the Guide To Advancement - 2013, No. 33088 (SKU-618673)
[1.0.0.0] Introduction
The current edition of the Guide to Advancement is the official source for administering advancement in all Boy Scouts of America programs: Cub
Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, and Sea Scouts. It replaces any previous BSA advancement manuals, including Advancement
Committee Policies and Procedures, Advancement and Recognition Policies and Procedures, and previous editions of the Guide to Advancement.
[Page 2, and 5.0.1.4] Policy on Unauthorized Changes to Advancement Program
No council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to, or subtract from, advancement requirements. There are limited
exceptions relating only to youth members with special needs. For details see section 10, Advancement for Members With Special Needs.
[Page 2] The Guide to Safe Scouting Applies
Policies and procedures outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416, apply to all BSA activities, including those related to advancement and
Eagle Scout service projects.
[7.0.3.1] The Buddy System and Certifying Completion
A youth member must not meet one-on-one with an adult. Sessions with counselors must take place where others can view the interaction, or the
Scout must have a buddy: a friend, parent, guardian, brother, sister, or other relativeor better yet, another Scout working on the same badgealong
with him attending the session.
When the Scout meets with the counselor, he should bring any required projects. If these cannot be transported, he should present evidence, such as
photographs or adult verification. His unit leader, for example, might state that a satisfactory bridge or tower has been built for the Pioneering merit
badge, or that meals were prepared for Cooking. If there are questions that requirements were met, a counselor may confirm with adults involved.
Once satisfied, the counselor signs the blue card using the date upon which the Scout completed the requirements, or in the case of partials, initials
the individual requirements passed.
Note that from time to time, it may be appropriate for a requirement that has been met for one badge to also count for another. See Fulfilling More
Than One Requirement With a Single Activity, 4.2.3.6.
[7.0.3.2] Group Instruction
It is acceptableand sometimes desirablefor merit badges to be taught in group settings. This often occurs at camp and merit badge midways or
similar events. Interactive group discussions can support learning. The method can also be attractive to guest experts assisting registered and
approved counselors. Slide shows, skits, demonstrations, panels, and various other techniques can also be employed, but as any teacher can attest,
not everyone will learn all the material.
There must be attention to each individuals projects and his fulfillment of all requirements. We must know that every Scout actually and
personally completed them. If, for example, a requirement uses words like show, demonstrate, or discuss, then every Scout must do that. It is
unacceptable to award badges on the basis of sitting in classrooms watching demonstrations, or remaining silent during discussions.
It is sometimes reported that Scouts who have received merit badges through group instructional settings have not fulfilled all the requirements. To
offer a quality merit badge program, council and district advancement committees should ensure the following are in place for all group instructional
events.
Merit badge counselors are known to be registered and approved.
Any guest experts or guest speakers, or others assisting who are not registered and approved as merit badge counselors, do not accept the
responsibilities of, or behave as, merit badge counselors, either at a group instructional event or at any other time. Their service is temporary, not
ongoing.
Counselors agree not to assume prerequisites have been completed without some level of evidence that the work has been done. Pictures and
letters from other merit badge counselors or unit leaders are the best form of prerequisite documentation when the actual work done cannot be
brought to the camp or site of the merit badge event.
There is a mechanism for unit leaders or others to report concerns to a council advancement committee on summer camp merit badge programs,
group instructional events, and any other merit badge counseling issuesespecially in instances where it is believed BSA procedures are not
followed. See Reporting Merit Badge Counseling Concerns, 11.1.0.0.
There must be attention to each individuals projects and his fulfillment of all requirements. We must know that every Scoutactually and
personallycompleted them.
[7.0.3.3] Partial Completions
A Scout need not pass all the requirements of one merit badge with the same counselor. It may be that due to timing or location issues, etc., he must
meet with a different counselor to finish the badge. The Application for Merit Badge has a place to record what has been finisheda partial. In the
center section on the reverse of the blue card, the counselor initials for each requirement passed. In the case of a partial completion, the counselor
does not retain his or her portion of the card. A subsequent counselor may choose not to accept partial work, but this should be rare. A Scout, if he
believes he is being treated unfairly, may work with his unit leader to find another counselor. An example for the use of a signed partial would be to
take it to camp as proof of prerequisites. Partials have no expiration except the Scouts 18th birthday. Units, districts, or councils shall not establish
other expiration dates for partial merit badges.
[7.0.4.8] Unofficial Worksheets and Learning Aids
Worksheets and other materials that may be of assistance in earning merit badges are available from a variety of places including unofficial sources
on the Internet and even troop libraries. Use of these aids is permissible as long as the materials can be correlated with the current requirements that
Scouts must fulfill. Completing worksheets may suffice where a requirement calls for something in writing, but this would not work for a requirement
where the Scout must discuss, tell, show, or demonstrate, etc. Note that Scouts shall not be required to use these learning aids in order to complete a
merit badge.
Attachment
(NOTE: It is not necessary to print this page.)
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Counselors Name: ______________________________________

Counselors Phone No.: ___________________________

What it takes to be a good citizen:

FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SPEECH, OF THE PRESS