Have you ever wondered how many US senators there are, how a bill becomes a law or why we have the Electoral College? Do you think of mudslinging as something you and your little brother used to do in the backyard on rainy afternoons? Is your knowledge of American government, well, a bit rusty?

If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, Vote Smart's Government 101 is designed especially for you. This tutorial is informative, practical and easy and is intended to help refresh your knowledge of American politics by providing useful information about Congress, political parties, campaign finance, the Constitution, elections, state government and much more.

We hope that if you take a little time to read through Government 101, you'll be able to see past the spin and get the facts next time you vote. At the very least, you'll be a heck of a lot more competitive the next time you play Trivial Pursuit.