Democracy in Action

Req 3 — Attending a Government Meeting

3a.
Attend an in-person meeting of your city, town, or county council or school board, local court session; OR another state or local governmental meeting approved in advance by your counselor.
3b.
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.

Why Attend a Government Meeting?

Reading about government is one thing. Watching it happen in real time is something else entirely. When you sit in on a city council meeting or a school board session, you see democracy at work — real people debating real issues that affect your community. It can be fascinating, frustrating, inspiring, and sometimes even boring. But it is always real.

Most government meetings are open to the public. That is not an accident — it is the law. Open meeting laws (sometimes called “sunshine laws”) exist because citizens have the right to see how their government makes decisions.

Choosing a Meeting

You have several options. Pick the one that is most accessible and interesting to you:

City or Town Council Meeting

This is the most popular choice for Scouts. City councils typically meet once or twice a month in the evening. They discuss local issues like zoning, budgets, road projects, parks, and public safety. Check your city’s website for the schedule and location.

County Board or Commission Meeting

If you live in an unincorporated area or want to see county-level government at work, attend a county board meeting. These often cover topics like county road maintenance, law enforcement, and public health.

School Board Meeting

School boards make decisions about your schools — budgets, curriculum, policies, and facilities. Since these decisions directly affect you, school board meetings can be especially engaging for Scouts.

Local Court Session

Courtrooms are open to the public for most proceedings. You can observe a court session to see the judicial branch in action. Contact the courthouse in advance to find out when sessions are scheduled and what types of cases will be heard.

What to Expect

Government meetings follow a formal structure called parliamentary procedure (often based on Robert’s Rules of Order). Here is what a typical city council meeting looks like:

  1. Call to Order — The chair (usually the mayor) officially starts the meeting.
  2. Roll Call — Members present are recorded.
  3. Approval of Minutes — The record of the last meeting is reviewed and approved.
  4. Public Comment — Citizens can address the council on any topic. Each speaker usually gets 2–3 minutes.
  5. Old Business — Items carried over from previous meetings.
  6. New Business — New items for discussion and vote.
  7. Reports — Updates from staff, committees, or departments.
  8. Adjournment — The meeting ends.
A Scout sitting in the audience of a city council meeting, taking notes in a notebook, with council members seated at a raised dais in the background

Taking Notes

Bring a notebook and pen. As you watch the meeting, write down:

Meeting Observation Guide

Key things to watch for during the meeting
  • What issues generated the most debate?
  • Did any members of the public speak? What did they say?
  • How did council members treat each other — respectfully? Contentiously?
  • Were there any votes? Were they unanimous or split?
  • Did anything surprise you?

Forming Your Opinion (Requirement 3b)

After the meeting, your counselor will ask you to pick one issue where opinions were divided and explain which side you agree with — and why.

This is not about having the “right” answer. It is about showing that you can:

C-SPAN Classroom — How Local Government Works Free educational resources about government, including videos of real legislative sessions and lesson plans.
A Scout sitting in the gallery of a courtroom or meeting hall, attentively writing notes with a focused expression