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Citizenship in the Nation

Scouts BSA · Merit Badge · Citizenship, Eagle-required

Printable worksheet (PDF)

This badge helps you understand how the United States government works and what your rights and responsibilities are as a citizen. You'll study the founding documents, follow the news, and even write to your representative. It shows you that your voice matters.

Why it's worth it

The Constitution is only about 4,500 words long, and it decides who makes laws, who enforces them, and what rights no one can take from you. Citizenship in the Nation helps you read it, follow how it plays out in the news, and use it. You'll visit places where national history happened and write to the people who represent you in Congress, who are paid to listen to you. By the end you'll understand the headlines your family talks about and be ready to vote someday with confidence.

Start this week

  1. Read the Preamble out loud tonight and write each of its six purposes on a separate line.
  2. Ask your Scoutmaster for the name of a Citizenship in the Nation counselor, and send them a short message with a parent copied to set up a first meeting.
  3. Look up who your two U.S. senators and your U.S. representative are, and save their names and websites.
  4. Pick a trusted news source with a parent and plan which five days you'll follow national news for requirement 5.

Requirements · 8

Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab) (updated 2025).

  1. Requirement 1

    Explain what the U.S. Constitution is, what it does, the principles behind it, and why having a constitution matters

    Tip: Read the Constitution with a parent a little at a time. Talk about why the founders wrote it and how it still affects you.

  2. Requirement 2

    List the 6 purposes for the Constitution named in its Preamble, and explain how they affect your family and community

    Tip: Write the six purposes on a card. Next to each, write an example of how it shows up in daily life.

    For example: Tie each purpose to real life: "form a more perfect Union" (states working together), "establish Justice" (courts), "insure domestic Tranquility" (keeping the peace), "provide for the common defence" (the military), "promote the general Welfare" (things like highways), and "secure the Blessings of Liberty" (rights for future generations).

  3. Requirement 3

    List the 3 branches of the U.S. government and explain the items below

    Tip: Draw a chart with the three branches. Add arrows showing how each one checks the others.

    For example: Draw the three branches as a triangle with arrows: Congress passes laws, the President can veto them, Congress can override with a two-thirds vote, and the Supreme Court can strike down laws that conflict with the Constitution. Add one real example of each check.

    1. Requirement 3a

      What each branch does

    2. Requirement 3b

      Why power is split among separate branches

    3. Requirement 3c

      How each branch checks and balances the other two

    4. Requirement 3d

      How citizens can take part in each branch

  4. Requirement 4

    Founding documents and the national motto

    Tips for this section: Pick a right from the Bill of Rights that matters to you and think of a real example of it in action.

    1. Requirement 4a

      Discuss why the Declaration of Independence is important

    2. Requirement 4b

      Discuss why the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments) and the 14th Amendment are important

    3. Requirement 4c

      Discuss why E Pluribus Unum, the traditional U.S. motto, is important

  5. Requirement 5

    For 5 days in a row, watch the national evening news or read the top stories from a national news outlet; discuss the issues with your counselor and explain how one affects you, your family, and your community

    Tip: Read or watch news from a trusted source for five days. Write a short note each day about one national issue.

    For example: Keep a five-day news log with one national issue each day: what happened, which branch of government is involved, and two different viewpoints. On day five, pick the issue you'd most like to discuss with your counselor.

  6. Requirement 6

    With your counselor's OK, pick a speech of national historical importance and explain the items below

    Tip: Choose a famous speech and read or listen to it. Think about what the speaker wanted people to feel and do.

    For example: Study a speech like Lincoln's Gettysburg Address or Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream." Explain what was happening in the country, the speaker's main message, and one line that still matters today and why.

    1. Requirement 6a

      Who wrote it

    2. Requirement 6b

      The historical setting

    3. Requirement 6c

      The national problems the author wanted to address

    4. Requirement 6d

      What the author said

    5. Requirement 6e

      Why the speech matters in the nation's history

    6. Requirement 6f

      Pick one or two sentences from the speech that mean a lot to you and tell your counselor why

  7. Requirement 7

    Visit historic and government sites. Choose 2 of 4

    Tips for this section: Look for landmarks, monuments, or federal buildings near you. Your state capitol is another good option.

    Example for this section: Two visits could be your state capitol, where you watch the legislature or take a tour, and a national park site, monument, or federal courthouse. For each, write what happened there and why it was preserved.

    1. Requirement 7a

      Visit a National Historic Landmark or a site on the National Register of Historic Places, and tell your counselor what you learned and found interesting

    2. Requirement 7b

      Tour your state capitol or the U.S. Capitol, and share with your counselor what you found out about the building, its purpose, and its history

    3. Requirement 7c

      Tour a federal facility and explain to your counselor what you saw, its role in the nearby community, and how it serves the country

    4. Requirement 7d

      Pick a U.S. national monument, research it using books, brochures, the internet (with a parent or guardian's permission), and other sources, and tell your counselor what you learned and why it matters to Americans

  8. Requirement 8

    Name your members of the U.S. Congress, write to your representative about your views on a national issue, and show your counselor your letter and any reply

    Tip: Look up your representatives online. Write a polite letter about an issue you care about and share any reply.

    For example: Write to your representative about an issue you care about, like protecting a national park or school safety. Keep it to one page: that you're a Scout in their district, the issue, why it matters to you, and what you'd like them to do. Send it with a parent's help.

Places to visit

Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.

  • Your state capitol

    You can see lawmakers at work, visit the chambers, and sometimes meet your own state legislators.

    How: Have an adult check the capitol's website for free public tours, especially during legislative sessions, and go with your family or troop.

  • A national monument, historic site, or federal courthouse

    Standing where history happened or watching a court in session brings the founding documents to life.

    How: Check the National Park Service or the court's website for visiting hours and security rules. Federal buildings require an ID check for adults.

  • Your representative's local district office

    Staff there help constituents every day and can explain how they track the concerns people send in.

    How: A parent calls the office to ask whether a Scout could stop by with a parent to drop off a letter or ask a few questions.

Where it can lead

  • Legislative aideWorks for a member of Congress or a state legislator researching bills and answering constituents.
  • Lawyer or judgeInterprets and applies the Constitution and laws in courts.
  • JournalistReports on government so citizens know what their leaders are doing.
  • Military officer or enlisted service memberSwears an oath to support and defend the Constitution.
  • Civil servantWorks for a federal agency like the Park Service or Social Security; many jobs don't require a degree.

Ask yourself

  • What do you already know about how the national government affects your daily life?
  • Which right in the Bill of Rights matters most to you, and why?
  • How did following the news for five days change how you think about a national issue?
  • What did it feel like to write to someone in Congress?
  • What will you do to stay informed and involved before you're old enough to vote?

Good questions to ask your counselor or someone who works in government

  • How does a bill actually become a law, and where does it usually get stuck?
  • How do members of Congress find out what the people in their district want?
  • What's one part of the Constitution people misunderstand most?
  • How can I tell whether a news story is reliable?
  • What's the best way for a young person to make a difference on a national issue?

Helpful reads

For leaders & parents

  • Plan a troop trip to your state capitol or a national landmark.
  • Encourage scouts to read news from several sources and talk about different viewpoints respectfully.

People & places that can help

Pairs well with

Helps you earn

Into this? Explore more

Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.