Tackling Community Issues

Req 4 — Investigating a Community Issue

4.
Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community; then do the following:
4a.
Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue.
4b.
With your counselor’s and a parent or guardian’s approval, interview one person from the branch of government you identified in requirement 4(a). Ask what is being done about this issue and how young people can help.
4c.
Share what you have learned with your counselor.

Choosing Your Issue

This requirement puts you in the role of an investigative citizen. You will pick a real issue in your community, figure out who in the government is responsible for it, and interview someone working on it. This is hands-on civic engagement at its best.

Start by asking yourself: What matters to you? What have you noticed in your community that could be better? Here are some common categories to spark ideas:

Infrastructure and Environment

Public Safety

Community Services

Growth and Development

Finding the Right Branch of Government (Req 4a)

Once you have chosen your issue, figure out which part of your local government handles it. Here is a general guide:

Issue AreaLikely Responsible Office
Roads, water, sewersPublic Works Department
Crime, safetyPolice Department
Fires, emergenciesFire Department
Parks, recreationParks & Recreation Department
Schools, educationSchool Board / School District
Zoning, buildingPlanning & Zoning Commission
Health, sanitationHealth Department
Budgets, taxesCity Council / County Board

If you are not sure, call your city hall or visit your community’s website. Most government websites have a directory of departments and their responsibilities.

A Scout reviewing a local newspaper and taking notes about a community issue, with a city hall visible through a window in the background

Conducting Your Interview (Req 4b)

The interview is the heart of this requirement. You will talk to a real government official or employee about a real issue. This is a skill that will serve you in school, in Scouting, and eventually in your career.

Before the Interview

  1. Get approval from both your counselor and a parent or guardian before reaching out.
  2. Identify the right person. Call the relevant department and ask to speak with someone who works on your issue. You might talk to a department director, a staff member, or even an elected official.
  3. Schedule the interview. Be polite, explain that you are a Scout working on the Citizenship in the Community merit badge, and ask if they would be willing to spend 15–20 minutes answering questions.
  4. Prepare your questions. Write them down in advance.

Key Questions to Ask

Here are some strong questions to include — but feel free to add your own:

Interview Prep Checklist

Be ready before you make contact
  • Issue chosen and researched
  • Counselor approval obtained
  • Parent or guardian approval obtained
  • Correct department and contact person identified
  • Written list of at least 5 questions
  • Notebook and pen ready for notes
  • Thank-you note or email prepared (send after the interview)

During the Interview

After the Interview

Sharing What You Learned (Req 4c)

When you meet with your counselor, be prepared to share:

iCivics — Community Action Project Free games and resources that teach young people how civic engagement works at the local, state, and national level.
A Scout in clean uniform sitting across a desk from a friendly government official in an office, with the Scout taking notes and both smiling