Citizenship Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA

BSA has created updated versions of the Troop Program features for Scouts BSA. The Citizenship program feature is available in digital format on the BSA website or can be purchased as a publication from you local Scout Shop.

The Citizenship feature teaches Scouts understand their rights as US citizens. It also demonstrates how these rights are balanced by duties like paying taxes and voting. The program feature includes some general information and some more specific ideas for meetings:

• The branches of the United States government
• Checks and balances
• The duty to serve the community
• The non-partisan nature of Scouting

Suggested troop meeting ideas are grouped by essential, challenging, or advanced. Here are a few you can see in the guide.

• Discuss the branches of the US government and local government (essential)
• Discuss how local, state, and federal governments work together (challenging)
• Discuss the structure of local, state, and federal governments (advanced)
• Discuss how to participate in the community (essential/challenging)
• Discuss paying taxes honestly and on time (advanced)
• Discuss local laws (essential)
• Learn how laws are enforced (challenging)
• Review the Bill of Rights and how bills become laws (advanced)
• Explain the difference between criminal and civil courts (essential)
• Explain how the Supreme Court figures into checks and balances (challenging)
• Review some Supreme Court cases and debate (advanced)

There are also several games suggested to keep things interesting at your troop meetings

• Mock Election
• Guess the President
• Bill to Law
• Mock Court Case

The plan even provides Scoutmaster’s minutes and ceremonies for meetings.

Then there is the “Main Event”. Once again, there are suggestions for essential, challenging, or advanced. Details and planning aids can be found in the online guide.

• Do a community service project (essential)
• Camp at a historic site overnight (challenging)
• Visit the stat legislature (advanced)

Find some related helps and achievements for the Citizenship Troop Program Feature below.

Service Project Ideas for Scouts BSA

Scouts BSA are required to participate service projects for rank advancement. Our troop encourages all Scouts to participate in service projects whether they need the hours or not.

Movies for Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge

Sometimes when I am doing an initial interview with a Scout for the Citizenship in the Community merit badge, they don't have any idea of which movie to watch for requirement 5.

Program Planning for Scouts BSA

The Scoutmaster, Senior Patrol Leader, and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader work together to develop long term plans for a Scouts BSA Troop. One thing which can help with this is the BSA troop program features.

Citizenship Football Game

The purpose of the game is to reinforce the ideas which are discussed in the Webelos Citizen activity badge.

Citizenship in the World Merit Badge Helps and Documents

Scouts explore what it means to be a member of the global community while working on the Citizenship in the World merit badge. They learn about international law and international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the European Union. Scouts also find out about relationships between nations and the role of the US State Department and ambassadors.

Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge Helps and Documents

Scouts learn how to be active members of their local community while working on the Citizenship in the Community merit badge. They learn about local government and do service work in their region. They also research the history, culture, and demographics in their area.

Scouts BSA First Class Citizenship Requirements Helps and Documents

First Class requirement 9 helps Scouts learn about their rights and duties as citizens. They also learn about good stewardship of the environment and participate in a service project.

Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge Helps and Documents

Scouts working on the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge learn about the rights, duties, and obligations of United States citizens. They explore important places in our nation and learn to keep up with national events. They also investigate the importance of documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Scouts also find out about the branches of our federal government and how they compliment and balance each other.

Law Merit Badge Helps and Documents

While working on the requirements for the Law merit badge, Scouts learn about the history of law and the difference between civil law and criminal law. They investigate the different areas of law and find out about careers which are related to legal matters.

Scouts BSA Tenderfoot Citizenship Requirements Helps and Documents

For the Tenderfoot citizenship requirements, Scouts learn the proper care of the United States flag. They also put the Scout slogan and Scout motto into action by participating in one or more service projects.

Constitution Word Search Puzzle

This word search puzzle contains words and phrases related to the United States Constitution. Use it with your citizenship requirements.

Scouts BSA Second Class Citizenship Requirements Helps and Documents

Second Class requirement 8 teaches Scouts how to be good citizens. They learn to respect and handle the US flag. They also learn about managing money and purchasing wisely.