This is a BSA Eagle Scout Required Merit Badge In a slide show format.

1. Citizenship in
the Nation
BSA Eagle Scout Required
Merit Badge
Designed by:
Brenda-Lee Haug
Troop 284
2010

3. No More Kings
 According to the lyrics of the
SchoolHouse Rock song, what
problems did the colonists have with
British rule?
 What other problems are you aware
of?
 How did the colonists attempt to solve
the problems?
 How was the government for the
new United States of America
different from the British government?

5. Four Parts
 Preamble
 Why writing this document
 Theory of government
 Government formed with consent of
the people
 If government does not serve the
people, they have the right to rebel
 Grievances against the British
government
 Actual declaration

6. Basic Ideas
 Statement of the American theory
of government
 Three basic ideas
 God made all men equal and given
them the rights of life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness
 Main business of government to
protect these rights
 If a government tries to withhold
these rights, the people are free to
revolt and set up a new government

8. Articles of Confederation
1781-1789
 Confederation
 Loosely joined together group of
states
 First form of government
 States retained most authority
 Decentralized, weak union

9. Articles of Confederation
1781-1789
 Problems
 No executive or judiciary
 Foreign affairs—Britain, Spain, France
 Native Americans
 No power to tax
 Could only ―request‖ that states pay war debts
 No power to regulate interstate trade
 Interstate bickering
 Money
 States coined own money
 Worthless ―Continentals‖

11. Basic Ideas
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances

12. I. Popular Sovereignty
 The people hold the ultimate
authority
 A representative democracy lets
the people elect leaders to make
decisions for them.

13. II. Limited Government
 Framers wanted to guard against
tyranny
 Government is limited to the
powers given in the Constitution
 The Constitution tells how leaders
who overstep their power can be
removed

14. III. Federalism
 The division of power between
State and National Governments
 Some powers are shared
 The National Government has the
―supreme power‖— Supremacy
Clause

15. IV. Separation of Powers
No one holds ―too much‖ power
 Legislative branch makes the laws
 Executive branch carries out the laws
 Judicial branch interprets the laws

16. V. Checks and Balances
Prevents the abuse of power
in government
Each branch can check each
other

17. The Constitution
Preamble
~
Explains why
the
Constitution
was written
Articles
(7)
~
Describe how the
government
works and how
the Constitution
can be changed
Amendments
(27)
~
Describes the
rights of the
citizens of the
United States

18. The Preamble
We the People, in order to form a more
perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general
welfare and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity do
ordain and establish this Constitution of
the United States of America.

19. What Does It Mean?
We, the People of the United States, want to make
a better country.
We want a court system that treats people fairly
and equally.
We want peace in our country.
We want an army to protect us.
We want our people to have the things they need.
We want freedom now and in the future.
We are writing and signing this Constitution to
guarantee we will have these things.

20. Three-Ring Government
 What are the three branches?
 What is the main responsibility of
each?

21. Executive
Branch—
enforces
laws
Legislative
Branch—
makes
laws
Judicial
Branch—
interprets
laws

22. The Federal Capital Building
House of Representatives
The Senate

23. House of Representatives
 Serve 2 year terms
 Must be at least 25 years old
 Must be a resident of the U.S.
7 years
 Based on state population
 Each state has at least
one representative
 Total = 435 members

24. Senate
 Serve 6 year terms
 Must be at least 30 years old
 Must be a resident of the U.S.
9 years
 Each state has 2 senators
 Total = 100 members

25. Senators—Texas
John Cornyn
517 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-2934
Fax: 202-228-2856
http://cornyn.senate.gov
Kay Bailey Hutchison
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4304
Main: 202-224-5922
Fax: 202-224-0776 (FAX)
http://hutchison.senate.gov/

26. Representative- TX
Michael C. Burgess (TX 26th)
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
2241 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Main:(202) 225-7772
Fax: (202) 225-2919
http://burgess.house.gov/

27. Enumerated Powers—
powers specifically granted
in the Constitution
Legislative Branch
House of Representatives
Senate

28.  Make our laws
 All laws must pass both Houses
 Tax and spend the money raised by
taxes
 House must introduce all spending bills
 Borrow money
 Establish uniform bankruptcy laws

29.  Provide for the nation’s defense and
general welfare
 Raise and support armies and a navy
 Organize a militia (National Guard)
 Authority to call out militia to suppress
insurrections or repel invasions
 Declare War
 Congress must approve a
declaration of war

30.  Coin money and regulate its value
 Fix the standard of weights and
measures
 Protect copyrights and patents
 Establish Post Offices and Roads
 Regulate Interstate Commerce and
Transportation
 Regulate Immigration and
Naturalization

31.  To constitute tribunals inferior to
the Supreme Court…
 The Constitution provides only for a
Supreme Court, and left it to
Congress to create lower (―inferior‖)
courts, and to set their jurisdictions
and duties

32. Elastic Clause
 To make all Laws which shall be
necessary and proper for carrying
into Execution the foregoing
Powers, and all other Powers
vested by this Constitution in the
Government of the United States,
or in any Department or Officer
thereof.

33. Types of Legislation
Four basic types
 Bills
 Joint resolutions
 Concurrent resolutions
 Simple resolutions
 All bills must pass the House and
Senate in the exact same form before
they are sent to the President.

34.  An idea for a bill may come from
anybody.
 Only Members of Congress can
introduce a bill.

35.  Bills can be introduced at any
time the House or Senate is in
session.
 A Representative or Senator
who introduces a bill becomes
that bill’s sponsor.
 A bill may also have cosponsors.

36.  Once a Bill is introduced, it is
sent to committee for
discussion and debate.
 The Bill must pass both houses
in the exact same form in order
to be sent to the President.

37. Presidential Options
 Sign the bill into law
 Veto the bill
 Do nothing

38. Presidential Options
1.Sign the bill into law
 Immediately becomes law
 Only the Supreme Court can remove
the law
2.Veto the bill
 Return to Congress unsigned—
usually with an explanation
 Congress can override the veto with
2/3 vote of both House

39. Presidential Options
3.Do nothing
If Congress is in session 10
business days after the President
receives the bill, automatically
becomes law
If Congress adjourns within 10
business days, the bill dies—Pocket
Veto
 Congress can do nothing to override
this decision.

40. 4 year terms
 no more than a total of 10 years in
succession
Must be at least 35 years old
A resident of the United States
for 14 years
A natural-born citizen

41. President
Vice-President
Cabinet
Presidential Advisors
15 departments

42. The Cabinet
• Secretary of State
• Secretary of the Treasury
• Secretary of Defense
• Attorney General
• Secretary of the Interior
• Secretary of Agriculture
• Secretary of Commerce
• Secretary of Labor
• Secretary of Health and
Human Services
• Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development
• Secretary of Transportation
• Secretary of Education
• Secretary of Energy
• Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs
• Secretary of Homeland
Security

43. Enumerated Powers
of the President
National Security Powers
Legislative Powers
Administrative Powers
Judicial Powers

44.  National Security Powers:
 Serves as the Commander-in-Chief of
the armed forces.
 Can authorize the use of troops
overseas. To declare war officially, he
must get the approval of the Congress
 Makes treaties with other nations;
however, the Senate must approve any
treaty before it becomes official
 Nominates ambassadors, with the
agreement of the Senate

45.  Legislative Powers:
 Presents information on the state of
the union to Congress
 Recommends legislation to Congress.
 Convenes both houses of Congress in
special sessions
 Approves laws passed by Congress

46.  Administrative Powers:
 ―Take care that the laws be faithfully
executed‖ -- Article II, Section 3
 Appoints the heads of each Executive
Branch department
 Appoints ambassadors, Supreme
Court Justices, and other officials,
with approval of the Senate
 Fills administrative vacancies during
congressional recesses

47.  Judicial Powers:
 Grants reprieves and pardons for
Federal crimes (except
impeachment)
 Appoints Federal judges, with the
agreement of the Senate

48. Presidential Election:
Electoral College
Compromise
 Direct popular election vs.
Election by Congress
Number of electors based on
total number of Senators and
Representatives for each state
 Texas has 34 electors

49. Electoral College Map
2008 Presidential Election

51. Supreme Court Justices
“Nine Players” (1869)
Seven members were fine
'Till 1869
Go up then down
From 10-7
But this act gave us nine.
Chief Justice
Year Appointed
President
John G.
Roberts Jr.
2005(CJ)
Bush(CJ)
Associate
Justices
Year Appointed
President
Antonin Scalia
1986
Reagan
Anthony M.
Kennedyy
1988
Reagan
Clarence
Thomas
1991
George H.W. Bush
Ruth Bader
Ginsburg
1993
Clinton
Stephen G.
Breyer
1994
Clinton
Samuel A. Alito
Jr.
2006
G.W.Bush
Sonia
Sotomayor
2009
Obama
Elena Kagan
2010
Obama

52. Supreme Court
 Eight Justices and one Chief
Justice
 Appointed by the President and
approved by the Senate
 Appointed for life
as long as they want
‖good behavior‖

53. Enumerated Powers
of the
Supreme Court

54. Original Jurisdiction—hear
directly
 Cases affecting Ambassadors,
other public Ministers and
Consuls (Diplomats)
 Cases in which a state shall be
party

55. Appellate Jurisdiction—
review decisions of lower
court
 Admiralty and maritime cases
 Controversies involving one or
more states
 Controversies involving the
United States

56. Federal Court System
•Three levels
•District trial courts -- lowest level of courts
•Appeals courts -- middle level of courts
•Supreme Court -- highest court in the country

57. Checks and Balances
No one branch has more
power than another

58. Checks and Balances
* Can propose laws
Executive
* Can veto laws
Checks
* Makes appointments
On the
* Negotiates foreign treaties
Legislative
* Can call special
sessions of Congress
Executive
Checks
On the
* Appoints federal judges
Judicial
* Can grant pardons
to federal offenders

59. Checks and
Balances
Legislative
Checks
On the
* Create lower federal courts
* Can impeach and remove judges
* Ratifies treaties
Legislative
Checks
On the
Executive
* Confirms executive appointments
* Appropriates money
* Can override President’s veto
* Can impeach and remove President
* Approves appointments
of federal judges
Judicial
* Can propose amendments to
overrule judicial decisions

60. Checks and Balances
Judicial Checks on
the Executive Branch
* Can declare
Executive actions
unconstitutional
* Presides over
* Can declare acts of
Congress unconstitutional
Judicial Checks on
the Legislative Branch
impeachment
proceedings

61. Relationship Between
States and National
Government




Delegated powers
Reserved powers
Concurrent powers
Restricted powers

62. Powers Delegated to
National Government
Regulate interstate & foreign trade
Establish foreign policy
Create & maintain
armed forces
Make copyright
& patent laws
Coin money
Declare War
Admit new states
Create federal courts
Establish postal offices
Set standard weights & measures

63. Powers Reserved by States
Create corporation laws
Regulate trade
within state
Establish &
maintain schools
Establish local
governments
Make laws about
marriage & divorce
Conduct elections
Provide for public safety

64. Raise taxes
Charter banks
Borrow money
Administer criminal justice
Provide for public welfare

65. Restricted Powers
Article 1: Section 10
 No State shall
 enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or
Confederation
 coin money
 grant any title of nobility

66. Restricted Powers
 No State shall, without the
Consent of Congress,
 impose taxes on imports or exports
 lay any duty of tonnage
 keep Troops, or Ships of War in time
of Peace
 enter into any agreement or compact
with another state, or with a foreign
power
 engage in war, unless actually
invaded, or in imminent danger

67. Amendments to the Constitution
can be either additions or changes
to the original text.
Since 1787, over 9,000 amendments
have been proposed, but only 27
have been approved.

68. Amendment Process
Two Ways to Propose Amendments
 Congress
 Whenever two thirds of both Houses shall
deem it necessary
 Constitutional Convention
 When two thirds of the state legislatures call a
Convention for proposing Amendments
Ratification—Two Ways
 Three fourths of the state Legislatures
 Three fourths of the state Conventions

69. The Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments
to the U. S. Constitution

70. The first amendment—
5 rights mentioned
 Freedom of
Speech
 Freedom of
Religion
 Freedom of the
Press
 Freedom of
Assembly
 Right to petition
the government

71. Freedom of Religion
―Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment
of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise there of‖
Two clauses:
Establishment clause
Free Exercise clause

72. Establishment Clause—
Government cannot promote
religion

73. Free exercise of religion

74. Establishment clauseGovernment
Can
Cannot
 Teach about
religions in school
 Allow voluntary
prayer in many
examples
 Transport students
to a religious
school
 Read Bible for
culture or literacy
content
 Establish a state
religion
 Order a prayer
 Teach religious
doctrine in the
school
 Pay seminary
teachers
 Teach creationism

75. Free Exercise—The person
Can
Cannot
 Choose to
worship
when/where one
chooses
 Lead a prayer in
most examples
 Ask questions
about religions
 Worship whom or
whatever he/she
wants
 Break the law and
claim it is a
religious belief
 Raise children
without an
education
 Deprive children of
basic needs
 Force others to
follow his/her
religious practices

76. Freedom of speech
―Congress shall make no laws . . .
abridging the freedom of speech‖

77. Free speech–The individual can:
 Voice any political belief
 Protest (without getting out of
control)
 Say things about someone that
are true
 Burn the flag
 Say racist and hate slogans
Free speech means someone might
say something you disagree with

78. Free speech—limits on
the person
 Cannot threaten to blow up
airplanes, schools, or the President
 No sexual harassment
 Incite riots
 Use extremely crude language in a
public forum
 Say untrue things about someone

79. Freedom of the press
 Congress shall make
no law . . . abridging
. . . the freedom of
the press.‖

80. Freedom of the press-the press
Can
Cannot
 Print any political
position
 Make fun of
people, especially
politicians
 Expose wrongs
by the
government
 Say things you
might not agree
with
 Libel–
intentionally
injuring a
person’s
reputation by
false facts
 Disclose defensesecurity secrets
 Detail how to
make a certain
weapons

81. Freedom of Assembly
 Congress shall make no law . . .
Abridging . . . The people to
peaceably assemble‖

82. Freedom of Assembly-Individual
Can
Cannot
 Protest
 Parade (with a
permit)
 Parade chanting
hate slogans
 Gang members
can congregate in
public
 Protest by
throwing rocks
and breaking
windows
 Hang out on
private land
against owners
will—loitering
 Teen curfew

83. Petition the Government
 ―Congress shall make no law . . .
Abridging . . . the people. . . to
petition the government for a
redress of grievances‖

84. Petition the government
 You may sue the government for
wrongs
 You cannot be punished for exposing
wrongs committed by the government
 The courts decide the wrongs

85. 2nd Amendment—
Right to bear arms
―A well-regulated militia, being
necessary to the security of a free
state, the right of the people to
bear arms shall not be infringed.‖

86. What is the debate with the
right to bear arms?
 How much can the
government keep
guns from
criminals and
youth?
 In order to keep
guns away from
criminals, does
that limit the right
of law abiding
citizens?

87. Third Amendment—
Quartering of Troops
The Government
cannot force you
to shelter soldiers
in your home
without your
consent in time of
war or peace.

88. Rights of the Accused
Amendments #4-8

89. Fourth Amendment
 What does a
policeman
need in order
to search your
home?
 Probable
cause
 A warrant
signed by a
judge

90. Fifth Amendment
 You cannot be tried for the same
crime twice—called ―Double
Jeopardy‖
 You do not have to testify
against yourself. ―I plead the
fifth‖
 You must have due process of
law before you are convicted
 The government cannot take
your land unless it pays for it

91. Sixth Amendment
 Right to speedy
trial by impartial
jury
 You must be told
of charges
 You must be
provided a
lawyer if you
cannot afford
one

92. Sixth Amendment
Jury trial in
civil cases as
well as
criminal
cases.

93. Eighth Amendment
No excessive
bail
No cruel and
unusual
punishment

94. Tenth Amendment
 The powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the states,
are reserved to the states
respectively, or to the people.

95. The ―Civil War‖
Amendments
 The 13th Amendment (1865) prohibits
slavery in the United States.
 The 14th Amendment (1868) establishes
that all persons born or naturalized in the
United States are citizens and that no state
shall deprive citizens of their rights under
the Constitution or deny “equal protection
of the laws.”
 The 15th Amendment established the right
of citizens to vote regardless of “race,
creed, color, or previous condition of
servitude.”

96. Voting Rights Amendments
 15th Amendment
 regardless of ―race, creed, color, or previous
condition of servitude‖
 19th Amendment
 Women shall have the right to vote
 23rd Amendment
 District of Columbia suffrage
 24th Amendment
 No one has to pay a tax to vote
 26th Amendment
 18-year-olds given right to vote
TAX

97. Prohibition
 18th Amendment
 Illegal to make, sell, distribute or
drink alcoholic beverages
 21st Amendment
 Repealed the 18th Amendment

98. Functions of Government
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Defense
Law Enforcement
Postal System
Highways
Veterans Benefits
Welfare
Social Security
Foreign Relations
Natural Resources
Agriculture

99. Functions of Government
Defense
Department of Defense
Army, Air Force, Navy,
Marine Corps, Coast
Guard
Protects the nation
Defend our interests
around the world

100. Functions of Government
 Law Enforcement
 Preserve public order
 Protect citizens’ rights and freedom
 Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI)
 Part of the U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Postal Service
 Delivery of written communications
 Handle more than 165 billion pieces of
mail each year.
 Deliveries to nearly 29,000 post
offices in each country

101. Functions of Government
 Highways
 More than 3.8 million miles of
interstate highways and federal
roads
 Highway Trust Fund
 Helps finance construction and
maintenance with funds from the
 Income from taxes on gasoline, tires, and
engine parts

102. Functions of Government
 Veterans’ Benefits
 Department of Veterans Affairs
 Benefits to more than 25 million
veterans and their families

103. Functions of Government
 Welfare
 US Department of Health and Human
Resources
 Food Stamps
 Aid to families with Dependent Children
 Supplemental Security income
 Social Security
 Pensions for retired persons
 Disability pay and medical insurance
for the elderly
 Financed through fixed contributions
from workers and their employers

104. Functions of Government
Foreign Relations
Foreign policy
President
Assisted by the Department of State
Maintain diplomatic relations
with other countries
Help encourage international
trade for U.S. products and
services

105. Functions of Government
 Natural Resources
 550 million+ acres of land under its jurisdiction
 Protect and preserve—land, water, minerals, fish,
wildlife
 National Park Service
 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
 Bureau of Land Management
 Bureau of Reclamation
 Bureau of Indian Affairs
 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
 Independent agency of the federal government
 Control and end pollution of air, soil, and water from
solid wastes, noise, radiation, and toxic substances

106. Functions of Government
 Agriculture
 Improve farm income
 Expand markets abroad for agricultural products
 Enhance the environment and agricultural production
 Reduce hunger and malnutrition in the U.S.
 Rural development and credit programs
 Food inspection and grading services—food quality
 Subsidies—monies paid to farmers and ranchers
to regulate or stimulate the production of various
agricultural products
 Extension agents demonstrate new methods and
technologies to farmers and ranchers

107. Financing the Government
The federal government is the
nation’s largest employer,
borrower, spender, and consumer.
 Taxes
 Borrowing money
 Management

108. Revenue
 Most government revenues are received
through taxes
 Individual taxes—largest source of money
 Other taxes




Corporate income taxes
Excise taxes on goods and services
Customs duties
Social Security taxes
 Miscellaneous income
 Sale of government assets—offshore drilling
rights and land
 Collection of various licenses and fees

109. Borrowing Money
National Debt
The money the
government owes

110. Tyrannosaurus Debt
TOUR GUIDE: To your
left, folks, is the
Washington Monument,
to your right, the White
House. And over there,
just beyond the Capitol,
is the National Debt!

111. Tyrannosaurus Debt
TOUR GUIDE: The
debt was born in
1790 when our new
government took
over 75 million the
colonies spent in
the Revolutionary
War.
TOUR GUIDE:
Alexander Hamilton,
our first Secretary of
the Treasury (he's
on the 10, you
know), wanted a
federal debt to
provide a reason to
establish taxes to
support our new
nation.

112. Tyrannosaurus Debt
TOUR GUIDE: The Civil War ran up a debt of
almost three billion dollars that still
wasn't paid off by World War One.
We're spending money we don't have
Or so it would appear
The deficit is that amount we overspend each year
Though congressmen and senators
Make vows to cut its size
Despite their honest efforts
The debt just seems to rise

113. Tyrannosaurus Debt
TOUR GUIDE: And this is the U.S. Treasury.
It sells Treasury Bonds, bills, and notes,
and savings bonds to finance the debt.
The U.S. government promises to pay
the owner interest plus the value of each
bond at a future date.
TOUR GUIDE: Feeding time is ALL the time.

114. Management
 Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
 Collects all taxes imposed by the the federal
government
 More than 100 million tax returns yearly
 The U.S. Customs Service
 Collects taxes called duties, on many imported
goods
 Prevents illegal goods from being smuggled into
the U.S
 The Treasurer of the U.S.
 Manages all government funds
 Pays all bills

115. Management
 Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)
 Reviews and alters budget requests from
departments of the executive branch to
comply with the preferences of the
President
 Federal Reserve Board
 Independent agency of the government
 Regulates credit and borrowing in the
American banking system

116. It is our job as citizens to
pay attention to politics, to
question, to participate.
Democracy only functions
if its citizens are educated,
critical thinkers.