Troop Governance
Troop government is the way in which Girl Scout troop activity is managed and is especially useful for group discussions and decision-making during the business portion of a troop meeting. Select a troop government system to increase girl engagement and encourage girls to take responsibility for planning their troop activity. It’s a fun way for girls to practice independence and leadership!
Troop Leaders and Troop Helpers help guide, redirect, and problem-solve as needed in each grade level. In Girl Scouts, troop government is designed to be progressive, building on the skills and experience gained in previous years. Choose the form of government that works best for your grade level and group size. Be patient; the first few meetings may not run smoothly or go as planned. That’s ok, because experience and mistakes will shape how girls learn about troop government and its benefits. Through trial and error, you’ll find a system that works best for your girls!
To help the troop be successful:
- Be prepared with options and ideas to spark conversation
- Establish and use a discussion process
- Document discussions to capture girls’ ideas and decisions
- Have patience and adjust as needed
For Girl Scout Daisies
Daisy Circle
Girl Scout Daisies help make decisions about their troop in a Girl Scout Daisy Circle. At this age, it’s best for the troop leader to give girls just two or three choices to pick from. Decisions could include things like where to go on a field trip or what kind of service project to participate in together. Simplicity is key! Use the Daisy Circle during the business part of a Girl Scout Daisy meeting.
Volunteer role examples:
- Invite girls to sit in a circle so all girls can be seen and heard
- Use pictures, charts, books, and other materials as decisionmaking aids
- Keep the business portion of the meeting to 5-10 minutes
- Establish a structure for contributing to the conversation
- Help all girls to participate in the discussion
Help Daisies understand how decisions are made and give them a set of rules to follow. Establish a structure for your circle right from the beginning. For example, girls who want to contribute to the conversation should raise their hand and be called on by the troop leader, so everyone can hear her speak.
For Girl Scout Brownies
Brownie Ring
Girl Scout Brownies use a Brownie Ring for group discussions and troop business decisions like planning activities, choosing badges, and spending cookie profits. As Brownies, girls begin to lead discussions with the troop leader’s help. Invite each girl to take a turn being the Ring Leader, or better yet – add it to your kaper chart!
Volunteer role examples:
- Invite girls to sit in a circle so all girls can be seen and heard
- Use pictures, charts, books, and other materials as decisionmaking aids
- Set a time limit for a Brownie Ring discussion
- Monitor girl participation and encourage everyone to speak
- Provide constant guidance for girls as they work through their ideas
Girl ring leader role examples:
- Ask the discussion question and invite responses
- Call on Brownies to speak one at a time
- Acknowledge each girl’s contribution with a simple “Thank you”
- Count votes and announce the tally
- Assist the Troop Leader with other tasks during the business portion of the troop meeting, as able: begin the quiet sign, take questions, announce upcoming events, present the troop finance report, etc.
Adults come prepared to help Brownies make decisions. Share a list of options for girls to choose from or help the girls generate ideas themselves. If you gather a list of ideas, review them after the meeting and consolidate them to what is feasible and realistic. Later, offer options that came from all their ideas and help them discuss and decide as a group.
Brownies still need rules to follow. Establish a structure for your discussion time such as:
- Using a “talking buddy”—pick an object and the person holding it is the only one who should talk, or a “talking signal” – the girl places the first three fingers of her right hand on the floor in front of her (or table if seated at a table)
- Teaching the quiet sign—when the troop leader or Ring Leader raises their right hand, everyone must do the same and get quiet
- Establishing the troop rule that nobody criticizes any ideas that are offered to the group
- Selecting other helpful strategies that you and/or the girls choose to adopt
For Girl Scout Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors
There are three common forms of troop government used by older Girl Scouts.
Patrol System + Court of Honor
In the patrol system, girls are divided into small groups, or “patrols,” of usually four to six girls. Smaller groups keep girls engaged as they discuss ideas, goals, and work together. Each small group selects one girl, called the Patrol Leader, to represent the patrol in the Court of Honor. The Court of Honor is a decision-making group made up of all patrol leaders and troop leaders, which seeks feedback and input from the patrols before final decisions are made. The patrol system is also useful for rotating groups of girls through activity stations, assigning group kapers, or completing smaller tasks that are part of a larger troop project.
Girls enjoy choosing their own patrol name and symbol. Large patrols may select a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader. Some troops signify patrol leaders with a special pin, badge, cords or other decoration.
The patrol system of government works well for one or more of these:
- Medium to large troops
- Multi-level troops, where patrols may be organized by grade level
- Troops with shared leadership who make time for advance planning sessions with girls
Volunteer role examples:
- Coach all girls to practice good communication skills in their patrol discussions; monitor the patrols and their progress in discussions and on tasks
- Invite all girls to take a turn in a patrol leadership role and set the transition timeline; for example, change leadership every four months
- Schedule Court of Honor conversations just before or just after regular troop meetings, or another convenient time
- With the girls, determine which troop business items can be handled by the Court of Honor and which items should include the whole troop
- Give the patrol leaders directions on how to collect patrol input and what to report out to their patrols; for example, clarify the three questions to ask during patrol time or the three things to share
- Lead the Court of Honor to plan future activity and evaluate past activity
Girl patrol leader role examples:
- Lead the discussion or the work of the patrol
- Keep the patrol on task and on schedule
- Encourage teamwork and invite all girls to participate
- Clearly communicate things from the patrol to the Court of Honor, and back again; be a good listener
Executive Board
In the Executive Board system, girls rely on one leadership team for the whole troop. Girls elect fellow troop members to president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer positions for the troop. The number of officers or positions may vary, depending on the needs of the troop. For example, add a position to help organize a Take Action or service project, plan a trip, or earn an award.
During the business portion of the troop meeting, the board members make their reports, and most importantly, seek feedback and input from the troop before final decisions are reached.
The executive board system of government works well for one or more of these:
- Medium to large troops
- Girl members with high interest in taking on defined leadership roles
- Girl members who show interest to practice specific skills (think basic accounting for Treasurer, basic notetaking for Secretary, basic facilitation skills for President)
Volunteer role examples:
- Invite girls to take turns as board members; set a timeline of elections and re-elections
- Schedule executive board meetings just before or just after regular troop meetings, or another convenient time
- With the girls, determine which troop business items can be handled by the Executive Board and which items should include the whole troop
- Work with the Executive Board to plan future activity and evaluate past activity
Girl board member role examples:
- Follow through on expectations of the executive board role
- Make a report during the business portion of the troop meeting
- Seek feedback and input from troop members before making decisions
- Keep excellent notes for the troop and the next girl in the role
Town Meeting
In a town meeting system, there is no formalized government structure. The girls discuss and make decisions as an entire troop. This form of troop government benefits from a girl moderator to ensure that everyone gets a chance to speak and provide input. Girls can establish their own guidelines for discussion and decision making and follow through with very little help from the troop leaders.
The town meeting system of government works well for:
- Small to medium troops
- Troops with the maturity to stay on task during discussions
- Troops with moderate to high levels of trust and cooperation
Volunteer role examples:
- Encourage all girls to take a turn being the moderator for troop business discussions
- Assist the moderator as needed
Girl moderator role examples:
- Guide troop business discussions and the business portion of the troop meeting
- Keep the troop on task and on schedule
- Encourage teamwork and invite all girls to participate