Scouting/BSA/Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

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Requirement 1[edit]


Citizenship by definition is granted by a nation state to a person born in it or given the rights by its government after immigrating there. One can also apply for citizenship by that nations' laws, by legal marriage to one of its citizens or any other combination of requirements of that state, for example after living for sometime there and having a permanent residence. International law and treaties may also apply, for example if one is born while the mother is located within the legal boundaries of a nation it would generally result in the baby having dual nationality/citizenship.

Being a good citizen should mean being of value and compliant in the eyes of the state. While the notion of citizenship makes only sense in the context of statehood, that is, the legal constructions that are limited by a territory, a nation, the classification of good or bad tends only to relate, in its most basic form, to how a person obeys the laws of the land as set by its government body and enforced by law officials and the courts. Noting that since states tend to lasts longer than its governance, someone that is labeled a bad citizen today may receive accolades for that criticized behavior in future circles of governance, and vice versa.

A good citizen also requires one to be an informed citizen and a participative citizen, by engaging in economic-political-social activities for the betterment of the state. As such knowing the national issues and problems by following news broadcast and press is of extreme importance, but remaining aware that control of the media is the control of the discourse, even your own, so, one should seek as many divergent and independent viewpoints as possible.

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services[1], which is currently a program within the US Department of Homeland Security, responsibilities of an active American citizen include:

  • Support and defend the Constitution.
  • Stay informed of the issues affecting your community.
  • Participate in the democratic process.
  • Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.
  • Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
  • Participate in your local community.
  • Serve on a jury when called upon.
  • Defend the country if the need should arise.

Citizens' rights include:

  • Right to vote
  • Right to a fair and speedy trial
  • Freedom of religion
  • Freedom of speech
  • Freedom of the Press
  • Freedom of Assembly
  • Right to National Security
  • Right to Keep and Bear Arms
  • Privilege of traveling
  • Eligible to work in all areas

Requirement 2[edit]

Do TWO of the following:

  • (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.

Requirement 3[edit]


What world issues did you learn about?

Choose one and explain how it affects you and your family.

Requirement 4[edit]


(a) Declaration of Independence[edit]

The Declaration of Independence was the US newly established government written document, that asserted US freedom from the rule of English King. Going as far as establish the right of the people in overthrowing all tyranny and setting rules on how to preserve individual freedoms. The Declaration of Independence, is the document that legally establishes the United States as an independent nation and is at the core of all future legislations, created by the US government.

(b) Preamble to the Constitution[edit]

The preamble is a table of contents for the constitution. It outlines the most important aspects of the constitution, and explains the reasoning for having a constitution. It is important because it helps people to better understand the constitution and why we have it.

(c) The Constitution[edit]

The Constitution enshrines the philosophy and reasoning behind the establishment of the U.S. republic, and talks about the different rights and freedoms all citizens must be given and defend. It is essentially an instruction manual. The Constitution is important because it establish the basis of the country's social, legal and political structures.

(d) Bill of Rights[edit]

The Bill of Rights include the first 10 amendments to the constitution. These are the basic rights of citizens of the United States. Life in the U.S. could be constricted and more federally controlled without one. These basic rights are vital for a truly free country. These rights are often referred to simply by their order in the Bill of Rights, such as "First Amendment rights" or "pleading the Fifth" in legal cases. Most of these amendments help define how criminal courts and investigations are conducted. In brief, these amendments are:

  • 1. Provides freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly, plus the right to complain to the government.
  • 2. Guarantees the right to keep and bear certain types of firearms and have a "well regulated" militia, within limitations.
  • 3. Provides freedom from unlawful housing of soldiers in homes.
  • 4. Provides freedom from warrantless search and seizure.
  • 5. Provides freedom from double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and uncompensated property seizures, and guarantee of a fair trial by jury.
  • 6. Guarantees rights of defendants in criminal trials, including the rights to a lawyer and a speedy trial.
  • 7. Guarantees the right to a jury trial in certain civil cases and prevents courts from overturning a previous jury's findings of fact.
  • 8. Provides freedom from excessive court bail, fines and "cruel and unusual punishments."
  • 9. Provides that other rights may exist in addition to those defined in the Constitution.
  • 10. Provides that those powers not defined in the Constitution may be defined by the states or the people.

(e) Amendments to the Constitution[edit]

There are currently a total of 27 amendments to the Constitution, the first 10 being the Bill of Rights. The other amendments are:

  • 11. Secures the right to sue a state.
  • 12. Defines the election of President and Vice President and the fallback system if one should die in office.
  • 13. Abolishes slavery.
  • 14. Specifies the post-Civil War requirements and notes that freed slaves are citizens.
  • 15. Specifically dictates that all races have full rights.
  • 16. Modifies the tax system.
  • 17. Lays out the system for replacement of senators.
  • 18. Bans alcohol, beginning the era of Prohibition, beginning in 1919.
  • 19. Gives women the right to vote, beginning in 1920.
  • 20. Patches some basic government functions.
  • 21. Makes the 18th amendment inactive in 1933, thereby un-banning alcohol, and ending Prohibition.
  • 22. States that no one can be elected President more than 2 terms.
  • 23. Modifies the Electoral College.
  • 24. States that no one can be kept from voting because of tax status.
  • 25. Reinforces the replacement system for the President and Vice President.
  • 26. Sets the voting age to 18.
  • 27. Deals with the payment of members of the House of Representatives.

Requirement 5[edit]


  1. Form a more perfect Union... States working together
  2. Establish Justice... Make and enforce laws
  3. Ensure Domestic Tranquility... Peace in our country
  4. Provide for the Common Defense... Keep country safe from an attack
  5. Promote the General Welfare... Contribute and promote happiness
  6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity... Make sure we stay free and keep our rights

Requirement 6[edit]

Choose a speech of national historical importance. Who was the creator? Tell about the author. Explain the importance of the speech at the time it was given and how the speech applies to American citizens today. Quote a sentence and tell why it has meaning to you. Here's an example.

Speech: President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Author: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. He was also the Commander in Chief of the Union Army during the Civil war.


Importance of the speech: In 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the site of one of the bloodiest and most important battles during the Civil War. Over 51,000 causalities had been suffered on both sides. Four months later President Lincoln gave this speech to dedicate a cemetery on this battlefield site. Lincoln reminded everyone what we were fighting for - "one nation under God". Not a separated nation. He also claimed that the nation built by our fore fathers "shall not perish from the earth". In other words, he would not allow the country to be destroyed.

Tell how it applies to American citizens today. This applies to American citizens today because if there ever is a war between our country, we should remember this because it helped us in 1863.


In this sentence Lincoln seems to have been reminding the audience that "all men are created equal" as written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 in the opening of the United States Declaration of Independence that states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed;"
This concepts have also been extended later, but previous to Lincoln speech, by The United States Bill of Rights (1791) comprising the first 10 constitutional amendments, based on The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of 1789. It guaranteed many "natural rights" that were influential in justifying the revolution, and attempted to balance a national government with personal liberties.

Requirement 7[edit]


The three branches are...

  1. The Executive Branch - applies the laws
  2. The Legislative Branch - makes the laws
  3. The Judicial Branch - interprets the laws

Citizens have the right to vote on who takes up office in the legislative branch and, indirectly, the executive branch, however citizens do not elect members of the judicial branch. Citizens also can suggest laws and bills that the legislative branch can vote to put into action. This is how citizens can participate in the government. With checks and balances one branch can check another to keep power balanced. For instance, A president can veto laws that Congress votes for, but if the Congress can get two thirds of the states to vote yes for the bill then that surpasses the veto.

Requirement 8[edit]


To find and contact your two Senators:

To find and contact your Congress person:

External Links[edit]

Works Cited[edit]

  1. Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities. US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Accessed November 11, 2014.

"Citizenship In The Nation Merit Badge" 5/29/06

"A History of the Washington Monument" 5/29/06

"Washington Monument: Symbolism" 5/29/06

"Wikipedia - Gettysburg Address" 10/14/2007

Earning Merit Badges in the Boy Scouts of America
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Earning Merit Badges in the Boy Scouts of America
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American Culture | American Heritage | Citizenship in the Community | Citizenship in the Nation | Citizenship in the World | Crime Prevention | Disabilities Awareness | Public Health | Traffic Safety
Earning Merit Badges in the Boy Scouts of America