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

Patrol System

Court of Honor

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