These infographics are intended for educators and students to support learning about the U.S. Government. They are meant to be presented online and are scalable for optimal viewing across a variety of screen sizes.

Branches of Government Infographic (Download PDF). Learn about the three main branches of the U.S.government, their roles and responsibilities, and how they work together to ensure that no one branch has too much power.

 

How Laws Are Implemented (Download PDF). Once a bill becomes law it needs to be implemented, or put into action in our everyday lives. Learn how a new law is implemented by an agency of the executive branch.

Add a link to Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government on your Web site with our colorful Ben’s Guide badge.

The Ben’s Guide badge is available in two sizes in a Web (.png) format:

Large badge is 250 x 209 pixels
Medium badge is 150 x 126 pixels

Files have been compressed in zip format for easier download. Click on the Ben’s Guide logo below to download the zipped file containing two sizes of the Ben’s Guide badge.

 

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This list includes resources that are either published by the U.S. Government or have information on topics related to Federal Government legislation and the three branches of government. To get started on your own learning adventures, check out these resources:

  • The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has information on the Supreme Court and Federal Court systems, including their structure and the types of cases that they hear.

  • America’s Story from America’s Library is a multimedia site produced by the Library of Congress where you can learn more about amazing Americans, historical facts and features, state information, and much more.

  • Children’s Books and Web Sites about the U.S. Government from the U.S. Senate includes Web sites and books for kids and young adults on congress, the Constitution, elections, how Government works, the Presidency, and more.

  • Cornerstone Documents from the U.S. Government Publishing Office has links to primary documents from our Nation’s past and present, such as the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution.

  • Smithsonian Kids has links to resources on American history, U.S. Presidents, and more.

  • The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center has a video, an activity guide, fun games, and more to help you learn about the Capitol Building and its history.

This annotated list includes selected resources that are either published by the U.S. Government or have curricular materials to assist in teaching and learning about Federal Government legislation.

  • American Presidency from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History has activities, resources, and teaching materials on the lives of the U.S. Presidents.

  • Children’s Books and Web Sites about the U.S. Government from the U.S. Senate includes Web sites and books for kids and young adults on congress, the Constitution, elections, how Government works, the Presidency, and more.

  • Legislative Resources for Teachers from the Library of Congress has classroom activities, lesson plans, primary sources, and additional educational resources on Congress and legislation.

  • Smithsonian Education has lesson plans on government and law, American history, and other areas. Search on standards by state, grade, and state Standards of Learning categories.

  • Tools for Educators from the National Archives has links to a Teacher Sourcebook, teachable documents, and tips on integrating historical Government documents into the curriculum.

  • USA.gov shows how the U.S. Government is organized, has a complete list of all Federal agencies with contact information, has links to state and local government, and links to contact Federal, state, and local officials.

  • The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center site includes student programs, lesson plans on U.S. Government and history topics, and educational resources to implement in the classroom as well as to prepare for visiting the Capitol Building and Visitor Center in Washington, DC.

  • U.S. Census Bureau has lesson plans and teaching resources that utilize national, state and local population and geographical data.

  • U. S. Courts Educational Resources has information on the Federal courts, learning tools on debating and deliberation, and civic engagement exercises on legal and constitutional topics.

Ben’s Guide provides opportunities to learn about themes related to our Government. These themes, called Learning Adventures, are divided into three school-age categories.

The Learning Adventures are designed for specific age and grade groups: Apprentice level is designed for ages 4-8 (grades K-3), Journeyperson is designed for ages 9-13 (grades 4-8), and Master is designed for ages 14 and up (grades 9-12 and up).

The Learning Adventures categories of Apprentice, Journeyperson, and Master refer to the in-house apprentice program at GPO that provided years of hands-on training in the field of printing. In Ben Franklin’s time, children could became apprentices to learn a trade; in modern times, young adults would spend several years at GPO to learn the technical crafts of printmaking and bookbinding to prepare them for work in that field.

Although Learning Adventures are designed for general age groups and grades, don’t limit yourself! Feel free to explore any category to learn more about each theme.