EMPOWERING BOYS TO BE LEADERS is the core of Scouting. Scouts learn by doing, and what they do is led their patrol and their troop. The boys develop a troop program, then take responsibility for figuring out how they will achieve their goals.

The Boy Scout troop is a small democracy. With the Scoutmaster's direction, the boys are formed into patrols, plan the troop's program, and make it a reality.

In order for that to happen, a troop relies upon Scouts serving in positions of responsibility. The key boy leaders of the troop make up the patrol leaders council. They are the senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leaders, and troop guides of any new-Scout patrols.