Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge
Requirement 2 - Government Organization
Requirement 2 - Government Organization
b. Chart the organization of your local or state government. Show the top offices and tell whether they are elected or appointed.
b. Chart the organization of your local or state government. Show the top offices and tell whether they are elected or appointed.
Requirement 3 - Public Meetings
Requirement 3 - Public Meetings
Do the following:
Do the following:
a. Attend a meeting of your city, town, or county council or school board; Or attend a municipal, county, or state court session.
a. Attend a meeting of your city, town, or county council or school board; Or attend a municipal, county, or state court session.
b. Choose one of the issues discussed at the meeting where a difference of opinions was expressed, and explain to your counselor why you agree with one opinion more than you do another one.
b. Choose one of the issues discussed at the meeting where a difference of opinions was expressed, and explain to your counselor why you agree with one opinion more than you do another one.
Requirement 4 - Community Issues
Requirement 4 - Community Issues
Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community; then do the following:
Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community; then do the following:
a. Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue.
a. Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue.
b. With your counselor's and a parent's approval, interview one person from the branch of government you identified in requirement 4a. Ask what is being done about this issue and how young people can help.
b. With your counselor's and a parent's approval, interview one person from the branch of government you identified in requirement 4a. Ask what is being done about this issue and how young people can help.
c. Share what you have learned with your counselor.
c. Share what you have learned with your counselor.
Study Resources - Government Organization
Study Resources - Government Organization
Study Resources - Public Meetings
Study Resources - Public Meetings
Syracuse City School Board:
Syracuse City School Board:
At the top right, there is a "Meetings" tab; the list of meetings is at the left. Click on one that has already happened, and you'll be able to click on the agenda. To watch the meeting, the link is given at the end of the text at the right above the agenda.
At the top right, there is a "Meetings" tab; the list of meetings is at the left. Click on one that has already happened, and you'll be able to click on the agenda. To watch the meeting, the link is given at the end of the text at the right above the agenda.
Onondaga County Legislature:
Onondaga County Legislature:
This is a little harder. You can click on a meeting (in blue) to view the agenda and presentations, and then click on the audio/visual at the right to download the video (they're about 70 MB in size) and watch them.
This is a little harder. You can click on a meeting (in blue) to view the agenda and presentations, and then click on the audio/visual at the right to download the video (they're about 70 MB in size) and watch them.
Syracuse City/Common Council:
Syracuse City/Common Council:
This is like the county. The list of sessions is organized by date. You can click on a meeting (in blue) to view the agenda and presentations, and then go to the youtube link to find and watch the meeting. Another option is to watch one of the study sessions or committee meetings.
This is like the county. The list of sessions is organized by date. You can click on a meeting (in blue) to view the agenda and presentations, and then go to the youtube link to find and watch the meeting. Another option is to watch one of the study sessions or committee meetings.
Question: Which issue do you care about?
Question: Which issue do you care about?
Community Development
Community Development
Green Smart Growth and Sustainability
Green Smart Growth and Sustainability
Parks and Open Space
Parks and Open Space
Community Violence and Youth
Community Violence and Youth
Education Equity and Achievement
Education Equity and Achievement
Access to Jobs and Economic Development
Access to Jobs and Economic Development
Air and Water Quality
Air and Water Quality
Race Relations
Race Relations
Refugee/Immigrant Populations
Refugee/Immigrant Populations
Access to healthy food
Access to healthy food
Quality legal representation for those awaiting trial
Quality legal representation for those awaiting trial
Criminal Justice System including fair treatment of youth
Criminal Justice System including fair treatment of youth
Police behavior and social justice
Police behavior and social justice
Affordability of Housing/Housing Quality
Affordability of Housing/Housing Quality
Access to Health Care
Access to Health Care
Poverty and Racism
Poverty and Racism
Infrastructure Needs (Water, Roads, Transport)
Infrastructure Needs (Water, Roads, Transport)
Something Else
Something Else