Powerpoint presentation for BSA Merit Badge.

1. Citizenship in the Nation
Amy B. Green
amybgreen@gmail.com

2. Citizenship in the Nation
A Couple of Rules for today
1. Taking a Citizenship Badge at an event like MBU is intensive.
If you are not accustomed to college style lecture and
discussion and feel you can’t handle it let me know. If I feel
you aren’t able to handle it, I will certainly let you know.
1. Many of the requirements for this badge require you to
“discuss” – that means you talking to me and everyone here
being able to hear you. It is important that each of you
participates actively.
2. A Scout is Courteous. The discussion we have today will not
be partisan political debates. Despite what you’ve been force
fed by commercially biased U.S. media, civil discussion of
our government is actually possible.

3. Citizenship in the Nation
Merit Badge Requirements
1. Explain Citizenship & Discuss Rights, Duties & Obligations of Citizens.
2. Visit a Landmark, Capitol, Federal facility (choose 2).
3. Follow News for 5 days & Discuss what you learned.
4. Discuss:
• Declaration of Independence
• Preamble, Constitution
• Bill of Rights
• Amendments to Constitution
5. List 6 functions of government & how they affect family & community.
6. Choose a speech of national importance – research and discuss
7. Name the 3 branches of government & explain:
• functions,
• citizen involvement
• checks and balances.
8. Write letter to Member of Congress about an issue important to you.

4. Requirement #1
Discuss Citizenship
Discussion:
What Does Citizenship in the Nation mean to you?
Actiivity: Kahoot! Starter Quiz

5. Rights, Duties & Obligations
What are they?
Rights: Entitlements protected by the Constitution
Duties: Responsibilities you must fulfill as a Citizen
Obligations: Moral expectations of citizens
Activity

6. Types of Government
Monarchy - Rule of one - king or emperor, or dictator.
Oligarchy - Rule of the few. – aristocrats, group of warlords, or military junta.
Theocracy – Rule by God. In practice, this involves rule by a religious leader or
group of religious officials who interpret God's will.
Authoritarianism - Monopoly of political power by an individual or small group
that otherwise allows people to go about their private lives as they wish.
Totalitarianism - Rule by an elite that exercises unlimited power over
individuals in all aspects of life.
Democracy – A form of government in which the people have the power to
govern themselves.
Jeopardy - Types of Government Game

7. USA— Constitutional Federal Republic
A Democracy is a form of government in which
the people have the power to govern
themselves. The citizens exercise their power
directly or indirectly through representatives
chosen in free elections.
The Majority rules.
The Founding Fathers established a republic –
with an elected president (instead of a monarch)
as head of state and freely elected
representatives who are responsible to the
citizens and govern according to law.

8. Why is our Government a Federal Republic?
“In framing a government which is to be administered
by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this:
You must first enable the government to controul the
governed; and in the next place oblige it to control
itself.
A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary
controul on the government; but experience has
taught mankind necessity of auxiliary precautions.”
- James Madison, The Federalist #51

9. Discussion:
Why did we emancipate ourselves from British Rule?
What are some events that led us to declare
Independence?

10. Reqirement 4a:
Declaration of Independence

11. Reqirement 4a:
Declaration of Independence
Five Main Parts:
1. Preamble – explains why the declaration was written
2. A series of “self evident” truths about the rights of all men
and the principles of government
3. 27 specific complaints against King George
4. Summary of colonists’ efforts to avoid a break with England
5. Declaration that13 colonies are “free and independent”
states, completely separate from Great Britain.

12. Reqirements 4b & C
Preamble & Constitution

13. Reqirements 4D & E
Bill of Rights & Amendments

14. Reqirements 4D & E
Bill of Rights & Amendments
Let’s test your Bill of Rights knowledge:
http://texaslregames.org/games_web_eng/BOR/billo
frights.html

15. Reqirement 5
List the 6 functions of government as noted in the
preamble to the Constitution.
Discuss how these functions affect your family and
local community.

16. Requirement 6
Speech of National Historical Importance
John F. Kennedy
Audio clip
September 12, 1962
Rice Stadium
Houston, Texas

17. Requirement 6
Speech of National Historical Importance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpH5L8zCtSk
Excerpt from:
A Time for Choosing
Ronald Wilson Reagan
October 27, 1964
Video Adaptation - US Armed Services

18. Requirement 6
Speech of National Historical Importance
Now – You Choose
Choose a speech of national historical importance:
• Find out about the author
• Tell about the person who gave the speech
• Explain the importance of the speech at the time
• Explain how it applies to American Citizens today
• Choose a sentence or two with significant meaning to you

19. Requirement 7
Branches of Government
The Founders of the United States, concerned with
the potential for abuse of authority, created a
representative government that divided the duties
among three branches:
• Executive
• Legislative
• Judicial
This separation of powers and system of checks
and balances prevented any one branch from
becoming too strong.

20. Executive Branch
President’s Job
According to the Constitution:
• Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces
• Can obtain information and opinions
from heads of executive departments
• May grant pardons
• Makes treaties with other countries with
Senate approval
• Appoints, Ambassadors, Federal
Judges and heads of executive
departments
• Reports to Congress – State of Union
• May call on Members of Congress
together in extraordinary occasions
• Receives foreign ambassadors
& public officials
• Responsible for enforcing Nations laws
• Issues commissions to all US officers
Source: JFKlibrary.org
The Executive Branch is
responsible for Enforcing Laws
. President of the United States
• Chief Executive
• Commander in Chief of Armed
Forces

21. President Trump’s Cabinet
Administrator of the Small Business Administration Linda E. McMahon
Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Gina Haspel
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
Secretary of Education Elisabeth Prince DeVos
Secretary of Energy James Richard Perry
Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.
Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao
Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer
Vice President Michael R. Pence
Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney
Source: whitehouse.gov

22. Legislative Branch
House of Representatives:
Comprised of 435 members
(adjusted proportional to population)
Sole responsibilities of House:
• Introduces Revenue raising bills
• Sole power of impeachment
Senate
100 Members (2 per State)
Sole responsibilities of Senate:
• Ratifies Treaties
• Approves Top Presidential Appointments
• Sole power to try impeachment case
Source: House.gov
The Legislative Branch is
responsible for Enacting Laws
Bicameral Organization:
• House of Representatives
• Senate

24. Judicial Branch
District Courts
• Main Trial Courts in Federal System
• Original jurisdiction
• 94 courts in system
• Only courts that use grand juries
Court of Appeals
• Hears District Court Appeals
• Reviews decisions of regulatory agencies
• Organized into 13 circuits
Supreme Court
Highest Court, hears 3 kinds of cases:
• Cases of Original jurisdiction
• Appeals from lower Federal Courts
• Appeals from highest state appeals courts
Special Courts
As created by congress, narrow focus.
The Judicial Branch
Interprets and applies laws.
The Supreme Court is composed
of the Chief Justice and 8
Associate Justices, appointed by
the President with the consent of
the Senate to serve for life.

25. Checks & Balances

26. Political Parties
What are Political Parties?
A political party is an alliance of like-minded
people who work together to win elections and
control of the government. Political parties
compete against one another for political power
and for the ability to put their philosophies and
policies into effect.
Source: http://www.sparknotes.com/us-government-and-politics/american-
government/political-parties/section1/

27. Political Parties
Late 1700s – 1816
• Federalists – strong central government (Adams, Hamilton)
• Anti-Federalists – advocated state & individual rights (Henry)
1800s
• Jacksonian Democrats – rights for common man
• Whigs – 1834 - formed to oppose Jackson, supported protective tariffs,
Nnational banking & federal aid (Lincoln)
• Anti Masonic Party – 1820 – opposed Jackson
• Liberty Party – 1839 - anti slavery activists
• Free Soil Party – 1848 – anti slavery (absorbed in Republican)
• Know Nothing Party – 1840s – Anti Immigration
1860-1932
• New Republican Party (GOP) – Abolish Slavery & some Whig ideals
• Democrats – took control of the south
• Greenback Party – Advocated money not backed by gold
• Bull Moose Party – Roosevelt, women’s vote, lower tax, workers rights
• Socialist Party – govt ownership of railroads & utilities, worker rights

28. Minor Parties & Special Interest Groups
Minor Party
A Minor Party combines elements of a special interest
group & political party, can be:
• Ideological (Libertarian)
• Single Issue (Right to Life)
• Economic Protest (Populist)
• Splinter (Progressive)

29. Minor Parties & Special Interest Groups
Special Interest Groups
People who share an interest that band together.
• Business Groups
• Trade Associations
• Labor Organizations
• Agriculture Groups
• Professional Associations
• Religious Organizations
• Advocacy (Issue and Group)

30. National Issues
As you watch and read the national news, consider how the issues
relate to what you learn in the merit badge. Do the topics affect
your rights & freedoms?
Learn how to recognize propaganda. Don’t immediately believe
everything you read. Make sure that:
• Your news source is reliable
• Check other news sources
• Investigate opposition views
Remember that Mass Media greatly influences public opinion.
Requirement 3: Discussion by those that completed requirement.

31. Requirement 8
Identify & Write Your Congressman
Name Your two Senators and the Members of
Congress from your Congressional District.
Write a letter about a national issue and send it
to one of those elected officials, sharing your
view with him or her.
Show your letter and any response you receive to
your counselor.

32. Summary
If you want your opinion and your vote to matter, you must make
consistent efforts to seek information. If you want to keep your
rights and freedoms, you must act.
.
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good me do nothing.”
- Edmund Burke