Merit Badge Super Saturday

This clinic is a deep dive into Citizenship in the Nation. The most benefits are received by group discussion with other participants when you are prepared. Discussion will take place on the following requirements during the clinic. To complete the badge, the parts of the requirements that are struck out must be completed and a subsequent meeting with a counselor arranged.

Requirements which are expected to be completed before the clinic are those that are not formatted in red below. In addition,

Read the Merit Badge pamphlet. It contains a large amount of useful information. Be familiar with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Reading both is expected to fulfill requirements 1-4. You can find the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution on-line, or find a pocket book from various sources. You can also request a copy from Hillsdale College. Please bring your documents with you for use during the clinic.

The workbook for the merit badge is also helpful but not required. Consider downloading it and using it for your notes. The workbook is found here.

1. What is the Constitution of the United States? What does the Constitution do? What principles does it reflect? Why is it important to have a Constitution?

2. List the six purposes for creating the United States Constitution set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution. How do these purposes affect your family and community?

3. List the three branches of the United States government. Explain:
 a. The function of each branch of government
 b. Why it is important to divide powers among different branches
 c. How each branch "checks" and "balances" the others
 d. How citizens can be involved in each branch of government.

4. Discuss the importance of:
 a. Declaration of Independence
 b. The Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution) and the 14th Amendment
 c. The traditional United States motto "E Pluribus Unum".

5. Watch the national evening news for five days in a row or read the main stories in a national media organization (e.g., a newspaper or news website) for five days in a row. Discuss the national issues that you learned about with your counselor. Choose one issue and explain how it affects you, your family, and community.

6. With your counselor's approval, choose a speech of national historical importance. (Counselor Note: Any speech listed in the link here, or here is approved. Approval for other speeches may be received BEFOREHAND by contacting the clinic MB Counselor, Mr. Smith at rksmith613@yahoo.com. Be sure to follow Youth Protection requirements by copying another adult on the email.)

Explain: 
a. Who the author was
b. What the historical context was
c. What difficulties the nation faced that the author wished to discuss
d. What the author said
e. Why the speech is important to the nation's history.

(Counselor Note: Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have A Dream” and President George Washington’s Farewell Address are fine speeches. Please choose something different as many of you have already read those for a school class and this is a chance to broaden your horizons.) Choose a sentence or two from the speech that has significant meaning to you, and tell your counselor why.

7. 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.
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.
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.
d. Choose a national monument that interests you. Using books, brochures, the internet (with your parent's 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 country's citizens.

8. Name your representatives in the United States Congress. Write a letter to your representative in Congress explaining your views on a national issue. Show your letter, along with any response you might receive, to your counselor. (Counselor Note: The words NATIONAL ISSUE. A National Issue is one that the Constitution assigns to the Federal government. For example, a street sign on your street is not a national issue.)