If you’re preparing to earn the Eagle-required Citizenship in the Nation merit badge, you’re in the right place! In this guide, I’ll be providing you with the answers and explanations you’ll need to complete your merit badge worksheet and fully understand important aspects of our great nation.
You’ve reached part 2 of my ultimate guide to the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge! If you’re new to ScoutSmarts, you should first check out part 1 for the answers to requirements 1-4 of the CITN badge.
If you’ve just come over from part one, congratulations! You’re halfway done. Once you finish the CITN merit badge, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge needed to be an informed and active citizen! Give yourself a huge pat on the back for making it this far. 🙂
It’s time to get back into it! Take a minute to closely review and think through requirements 5-8 of the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge. Then, I’ll provide you with some helpful explanations so that you can better understand what it means to be an American. Let’s dive in!
What Are The Citizenship In The Nation Merit Badge Requirements 5-8?
- 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.
- With your counselor’s approval, choose a speech of national historical importance. 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.
Choose a sentence or two from the speech that has significant meaning to you, and tell your counselor why. - 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. - 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.
CITN Merit Badge Requirement 5: Informed Citizenship
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.
Surprisingly, I found this to be one of the most fun requirements of this badge! If your parents or any of your siblings watch the news, just join them for a few days. Ask them how they think the issues you’re hearing about would affect your family. It makes for a great conversational topic, and you’ll learn more about how they see the world.
This requirement got me to watch the news with my Dad for the first time, and it became a great ritual for us! Even after finishing the merit badge, I’d still join him to watch the evening news at least once or twice a week.
If you can’t watch the news on TV, newspapers or news websites work just as well. I’d recommend AP News, NPR, or Reuters, as those are widely considered some of the least biased national news sources.
An important skill for any informed citizen is media literacy, which means being able to evaluate the news you’re reading or watching critically. This CrashCourse video (11:51) is a great introduction to thinking critically about the media you consume:
Here are some practical tips to make the most of your five days of news:
| Tip | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Keep a daily log | Jot down 2-3 headlines each day on your phone or in a notebook. You’ll remember everything when you meet your counselor. |
| Use multiple sources | Compare how different outlets cover the same story. This helps you spot bias and get the full picture. |
| Ask “who does this affect?” | For each story, think about how it connects to your family, your community, or people your age. |
| Pick your issue early | By day 2 or 3, choose one issue to focus on. Research it a bit deeper so you have specifics for your discussion. |
Scout Tip: When discussing your chosen issue with your counselor, try to explain both sides of the debate before sharing your own view. This shows critical thinking and will impress your counselor. For example, if the issue is environmental regulation, explain what supporters and opponents each argue before stating your position.
It won’t take long to get a basic idea of the current national issues taking place. Once you have a few topics in mind, consider how these events might impact you and your family. Then, discuss them with your family members, think more about your stance, and you’ll be all set for a great discussion with your merit badge counselor!
CITN Merit Badge Requirement 6: Historical Speeches
6) With your counselor’s approval, choose a speech of national historical importance. 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.
Choose a sentence or two from the speech that has significant meaning to you, and tell your counselor why.
For this requirement, you’ll need to choose a speech of national historic importance to research. You can find a great list of significant American speeches on American Rhetoric’s Top 100 Speeches. Here are some popular choices that work well for this badge:
| Speech | Speaker | Year | Key Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg Address | Abraham Lincoln | 1863 | National unity and equality during the Civil War |
| “I Have a Dream” | Martin Luther King Jr. | 1963 | Racial equality and civil rights |
| First Inaugural Address | Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1933 | Courage during the Great Depression |
| “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do” | John F. Kennedy | 1961 | Civic duty and national service |
| “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” | Winston Churchill | 1940 | Resolve during World War II (British, but widely studied) |
Below, I’ll use the Gettysburg Address as an example of how to cover sub-requirements 6a through 6e. You can use this as a template for whichever speech you choose.
6a) Who was the author? Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. He is one of the most widely known US presidents, having fought for the emancipation of all enslaved people during his time in office.
6b) What was the historical context? Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, during the American Civil War. The battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania had resulted in over 50,000 casualties just four months earlier, making it the bloodiest battle of the war.
6c) What difficulties did the nation face? The country was literally torn in half. The Southern states had seceded from the Union over the issue of slavery, and the war’s outcome was still uncertain. Lincoln needed to remind the nation why the fight was worth continuing.
6d) What did the author say? In just 272 words, Lincoln honored the fallen soldiers and reaffirmed that the nation was “conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” He called on the living to ensure “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
6e) Why is the speech important? The Gettysburg Address redefined the purpose of the Civil War from simply preserving the Union to also guaranteeing equality for all citizens. Even 160+ years later, its themes of unity and equality remain central to American identity.
Now that you know all about the Gettysburg Address, you might be interested in hearing it for yourself! Check out this video (2:52) of someone reenacting the iconic speech in public:
Scout Tip: When choosing your meaningful sentence, pick one that connects to your own life or your experience in Scouting. For example, if you choose the Gettysburg Address, you might say that “government of the people, by the people, for the people” reminds you that citizens have a responsibility to participate in democracy, not just benefit from it. You can read the full text of many historic speeches on the National Archives.
CITN Merit Badge Requirement 7: Locations of National Importance
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.
For this requirement, you need to complete any two of the four options. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which two work best for you:
| Option | What You Do | Effort Level | Best If… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7a) Historic Landmark | Visit a National Historic Landmark or Register site | Medium (requires a trip) | There’s a historic site near you |
| 7b) Capitol Tour | Tour your state capitol or the US Capitol | Medium-High (may need travel) | You’re near a capitol or planning a trip |
| 7c) Federal Facility | Tour a federal facility (post office, courthouse, military base, etc.) | Medium (requires scheduling) | There’s a federal building in your area |
| 7d) National Monument | Research a monument using books and online resources | Low (can be done from home) | You want to complete this quickly |
When I worked on this badge, I chose options a and d. Visiting a historic landmark in my state was a really cool experience, and researching a national monument was a straightforward process. I’d recommend pairing option d (research) with one of the in-person options for a well-rounded experience.
For option 7a: You can search for National Historic Landmarks near you on the National Park Service website. For the National Register of Historic Places, check the NPS National Register page. You might be surprised how many historic sites are right in your backyard!
For option 7d, here’s a step-by-step guide using the Statue of Liberty as an example. This same process works for any national monument you choose.
Step 1: Visit the list of national monuments and select a monument to research. For this TED-Ed video (5:13), the example is Mount Rushmore, one of our most recognizable monuments:
Step 2: Note the important details and write out a list of key facts about your monument. This should include the date of creation, location, number of visitors per year, and a brief history.
Example list for the Statue of Liberty:
- Name: Statue of Liberty
- Date established: October 15, 1924 (as a national monument)
- Location: Liberty Island, New York Harbor
- Description: Standing 151 feet tall, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the US. It commemorates the Declaration of Independence and receives over 4 million visitors annually.
Step 3: Dig deeper into your monument’s Wikipedia article or official government page. Note 3 interesting facts to share with your counselor.
- Fact 1: Designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. Its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the Eiffel Tower.
- Fact 2: The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886, and was renovated between 1982 and 2000.
- Fact 3: The robed female figure represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom.
Step 4: Find a reputable government source (like nps.gov) in the article’s citations. Add one fact from that source to round out your research.
- Government source fact: You can visit the crown and pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, but availability is limited and reservations are required in advance. (Source: National Park Service)
With these 4 steps, you’ll have more than enough material to speak with your counselor. Be sure to also explain why your monument is important to our country’s citizens. If you want to go the extra mile, check your local library for a book on your chosen monument.
Research Pro Tip: This step-by-step method of outlining facts and finding credible sources doesn’t just work for merit badges. It’ll save you time on school research projects too!
CITN Merit Badge Requirement 8: Advocacy
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.
After following the news for a week and learning about your country’s history, writing a short message about a national issue should be a breeze. This requirement has two parts: finding your representatives, and writing a letter.
First, identify your representatives. Every American has three members of Congress who represent them: 2 US Senators (representing your entire state) and 1 US Representative (representing your congressional district). Use these links to find yours:
- Your Senators: Senate.gov Contact Page
- Your Representative: House.gov Find Your Representative
- All-in-one lookup: Congress.gov Member Finder
To understand how Congress actually works and why writing to your representative matters, check out this CrashCourse video (8:56):
Next, write your letter. It doesn’t need to be long. Two to three paragraphs is perfect. Many representatives also have online contact forms on their websites, which can make this even easier. Here’s a simple structure to follow:
| Section | What to Include | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Introduce yourself and state your topic | “I’m writing to ask for your help with forest conservation.” |
| Body | Explain why this issue matters, with 2-3 supporting points | “Forests purify our air, support wildlife, and create jobs.” |
| Closing | Make a specific request and thank them | “Please support policies that fund reforestation efforts.” |
Here’s an example letter you can use for inspiration:
Dear Representative [Name],
I’m writing to ask for your help in protecting our local forests. As a Scout who cares deeply about the environment, I’m concerned about the damage caused by deforestation and have noticed that forest conservation funding is a current national issue.
Forests are important because they help purify the air and water, provide homes for wildlife, and support local economies. I believe we should invest more in programs that promote sustainable forestry practices, reforestation, and protecting existing forests. Not only would this benefit the environment, but it would also create jobs and support local businesses.
Please use your voice and vote to support policies that allocate more resources towards local forest conservation and restoration. Thank you for your time and your service to our community.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Scout Tip: Choose an issue you genuinely care about. Your letter will be much stronger if it comes from real conviction rather than just completing an assignment. If you followed the news for Requirement 5, you probably already have an issue in mind! Usually, a staff member will respond to you, but if you’re lucky, your actual representative could get back to you as well! 😀
Congrats on Earning Your Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge!
If you’ve made it to this point in the guide, congratulations! The citizenship merit badges aren’t easy, but they’ll equip you with the knowledge to better understand the world around you. Now that you’re ready to earn Citizenship in the Nation, you’re one step closer to becoming an Eagle Scout!
If you found this guide helpful, I’ve also written other merit badge walkthroughs, as well as articles helping you to be a better leader in your troop. You should check out my guides to Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the World, and Citizenship in Society if you’re looking for more Eagle-required badges to tackle!
Thanks for your contributions to our great nation through Scouting, and great work on this badge! Hope to see you here again soon and, until next time, best of luck on your Scouting journey!
(Click here to return to part 1 of my guide to the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge!)