Each state has two Senators who are elected to serve six-year terms. Every two years one third of the Senate is up for reelection. To be able to run in an election for the Senate one must be 30 years old by the time one takes the oath of office, a citizen …

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 …

When the first Congress met in 1789, there were 59 Representatives in the House of Representatives. As the number of states increased and as the population grew, the number of Representatives increased significantly. A law passed in 1911 fixed the size of …

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in the history of the United States. It marked an official step taken by the American colonies toward independence from British rule. Many colonists were unhappy with laws that …

The Declaration is a combination of general principles and an abstract theory of government. The fundamental American ideal of government is based on the theory of natural rights. The opening paragraphs of the document outline the natural rights afforded …