Boy Scouts of America

American Business Merit Badge

American Business
Merit Badge

Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Hub

Boy Scouts of America
Merit Badge Hub

AmericanBusiness

American Business Merit Badge Overview

Earning the American Business Merit Badge can help Scouts learn practical business matters that will be useful throughout life. Learning how businesses function will help you understand society and uncover a number of career options.
American-Business_merit-badge-overview

American Business Merit Badge Requirements

No info available. MB IP | Requirements 2023 – Download Previous 2022 PDF Link (URL) Type or copy the download previous 2022 PDF link (URL) https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/American_Business-old.pdf MB IP | Requirements 2023 – Download Current 2023 PDF Link (URL) Type or copy the download current 2023 PDF link (URL) https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/2023_Updates/35850(23)_American%20Business_REQ-old.pdf
1. Do the following:
  • (a) Explain four features of the free enterprise system in the United States. Describe the difference between freedom and license. Tell how the Scout Oath and Scout Law apply to business and free enterprise.
  • (b) Describe the Industrial Revolution and tell about the major developments that marked the start of the modern industrial era in the United States. Discuss three people who had a great influence on business or industry in the United States and describe what each did.
  • (c) Identify and describe to your counselor the five primary areas of business.
  • (d) Explain the history of labor unions in the United States and the importance of labor unions and employers working together. Identify two major labor unions currently in existence.
  • (e) Discuss with your counselor how business impacts the local, national, and global economy.
2. Do the following:
  • (a) Explain the three basic types of financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows). Discuss with your counselor how each statement can help business leaders make better decisions.
  • (b) Explain how changes in interest rates, taxes, and government spending affect the flow of money into or out of business and industry.
  • (c) Explain how a sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company gets its capital. Discuss and explain four ways a corporation obtains capital.
  • (d) Name five kinds of insurance useful to business. Describe their purposes.
3. Do the following:
  • (a) Explain the place of profit in business.
  • (b) Describe to your counselor green marketing and sustainable business practices.
  • (c) Explain how ethics plays a role in business decision making.
  • (d) Discuss the differences between operating a brick-and-mortar business versus an online business.
4. Describe the role of the U.S. Department of Labor. Discuss two of the following topics with your counselor:
  1. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
  2. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
  3. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  4. Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
5. Choose a business and research how it applies each of the primary areas of business (accounting, finance, economics, marketing, and management). Share what you have learned with your counselor.
6. Do ONE of the following:
  • (a) Choose one of the primary areas of business and identify three career opportunities. Select one and research the education, training, and experience required for this career. Discuss this with your counselor and explain why this interests you.
  • (b) Select a business leader and interview this individual to learn more about his or her company and career path. Discuss the role ethics plays in making business decisions. Share what you have learned with your counselor.

Get the American Business Merit Badge Pamphlet

Find out how the free enterprise system works in the United States and about how businesses operate.

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Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.