Citizenship in the World Merit Badge

Overview

Eagle required

Scouts who earn the Citizenship in the World merit badge will discover that they are already a citizen of the world. How good a citizen each person is depends on his willingness to understand and appreciate the values, traditions, and concerns of people in other countries.

Requirements

(1) Explain what citizenship in the world means to you and what you think it takes to be a good world citizen.

Resources: What Does It Mean To Be a Global Citizen? (video), What Is Global Citizenship? (video)
(2) Explain how one becomes a citizen in the United States, and explain the rights, duties, and obligations of U.S. citizenship. Discuss the similarities and differences between the rights, duties, and obligations of U.S. citizens and the citizens of two other countries.

Resources: What Is Citizenship? (video), A Guide to the Bill of Rights (video), What Are the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens, Duties and Obligations of Being a Filipino Citizen (video), Fundamental Duties as a Citizen of India (video)
(3) Do the following:
- (a) Pick a current world event. In relation to this current event, discuss with your counselor how a country’s national interest and its relationship with other countries might affect areas such as its security, its economy, its values, and the health of its citizens.
  
  Resources: National Interest in International Relations (video)
- (b) Select a foreign country and discuss with your counselor how its geography, natural resources, and climate influence its economy and its global partnerships with other countries.
  
  Resources: The Impact of Geography on the Global Economy (website), resourcetrade.earth (website), The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) (website), USGS Geospatial Data Sources (website)
(4) Do TWO of the following:
- (a) Explain international law and how it differs from national law. Explain the role of international law and how international law can be used as a tool for conflict resolution.
  
  Resources: National Law vs International Law (video), What Are Treaties and How Do They Work? (video), Why Do We Need International Law? (video)
- (b) Using resources such as major daily newspapers, the internet (with your parent or guardian’s permission), and news magazines, observe a current issue that involves international trade, foreign exchange, balance of payments, tariffs, and free trade. Explain what you have learned. Include in your discussion an explanation of why countries must cooperate in order for world trade and global competition to thrive.
  
  Resources: Free Trade Agreement (video), What Is Free Trade? (video), Balance of Payments & Foreign Reserves Explained (video), What Is Currency? Exchange Rates (video), Free Trade and Protectionism (video)
- (c) Select TWO of the following organizations and describe their role in the world.
- (1) United Nations and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
  
  Resources: What Is the United Nations? (video), What Is UNICEF? (video)
- (2) International Court of Justice (The World Court)
  
  Resources: What Is the International Court of Justice? (video), International Court of Justice (website)
- (3) International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol)
  
  Resources: What Is The INTERPOL? (video), INTERPOL (website)
- (4) World Organization of the Scout Movement
  
  Resources: World Organization Scout Movement (WOSM) (video), World Scouting (website)
- (5) World Health Organization (WHO)
  
  Resources: The WHO Explained (video), World Health Organization (WHO) (website)
- (6) Amnesty International
  
  Resources: What Does Amnesty International Do? (video), Amnesty International (website)
- (7) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
  
  Resources: Together We Are the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (video), IFRC (website)
- (8) Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere (CARE)
  
  Resources: CARE International (video), CARE International (website)
- (9) European Union
  
  Resources: What Is the European Union? (video), European Union (website)
(5) Do the following:
- (a) Discuss the differences between constitutional and nonconstitutional governments.
  
  Resources: Constitutional vs Nonconstitutional Governments (website)
- (b) Name at least five different types of governments currently in power in the world.
  
  Resources: Types of Government Around the World: Country Comparison (website)
- (c) Show on a world map countries that use each of these five different forms of government.
  
  Resources: World Maps (website), Political World Maps (website)
(6) Do the following:
- (a) Explain how a government is represented abroad and how the United States government is accredited to international organizations.
  
  Resources: What Is the State Department? (video), What Are Embassies, Consulates, and Missions? (video)
- (b) Describe the roles of the following in the conduct of foreign relations: ambassador, consul, Bureau of Global Public Affairs, United States and Foreign Commercial Service.
  
  Resources: What Is Diplomacy and How Does It Work? (video), Ambassadors: An Overview of the Role and Responsibilities of Diplomatic Representatives (video), Export With the US Commercial Service (video), What Is a U.S. Consulate? (website)
- (c) Explain the purpose of a passport and visa for international travel.
  
  Resources: Becoming a U.S. Citizen: An Overview of the Naturalization Process (video), What Is the Process for Obtaining a Permanent Residency in the US? (video), Visa vs Passport—Know The Important Differences! (video)
(7) Do TWO of the following (with your parent or guardian’s permission) and share with your counselor what you have learned:
- (a) Visit the website of the U.S. State Department. Learn more about an issue you find interesting that is discussed on this website.
  
  Resources: What Does the State Department Do? (video), USA.gov (website)
- (b) Visit the website of an international news organization or foreign government, OR examine a foreign newspaper available at your local library, bookstore, or newsstand. Find a news story about a human right realized in the United States that is not recognized in another country.
  
  Resources: Human Rights (video), Reuters (website), The New York Times World News (website)
- (c) Visit with a student or Scout from another country and discuss the typical values, holidays, ethnic foods, and traditions practiced or enjoyed there.
- (d) Attend or participate in a World Organization of the Scouting Movement (WOSM) event such as the World Scout Jamboree, World Scout Moot, World Scout Congress, Jamboree Over The Air, or Jamboree Over The Internet. Attendance at a national or regional Jamboree sponsored by a WOSM-National Scout Organization is also allowed.
  
  Resources: A Recap on the 25th World Scout Jamboree (video), Attending a World Scout Jamboree—Once in a Lifetime or Lifechanging? (website), What Is the World Jamboree (video), International Scouting Tools and Resources (website), World Scout Jamboree—Live Shows (website), The Ultimate Scout Camp Packing List (website), World Scout Jamboree Scholarship Information (website)
- (e) Participate in or attend an international event in your area, such as an ethnic festival, concert, or play.
  
  Resources: Eventbrite (website), Allevents (website)

Resources

Note: This is an unofficial archive of Scouts BSA Merit Badges that was automatically extracted from the Scouting America website and may contain errors.