I have noticed an alarming lack of basic knowledge regarding the functions of government not just on this forum but others as well.

I went looking for a politically neutral site that provides basic information. I think this is a good one. It answers some questions in plain language and provides related links as well.

It might be a good site to bookmark.

http://www.votesmart.org/resource_govt101_03.php

Here is a sample of the info provided.
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Qualifications for Entering Congress:
House:

* Must be 25 years of age (when seated, not when elected).
* Must have been a citizen of the United States for 7 years.
* Must be an inhabitant of the state from which elected.
(NOTE: custom, but not the Constitution, requires that a representative live in the district that he or she represents.)

Senate:

* Must be 30 years of age (when seated, not when elected).
* Must have been a citizen of the United States for 9 years.
* Must be an inhabitant of the state from which elected.

Other Sources of Information:

Capitol Questions Answers visitors' questions about Congress. Online from C-SPAN.

Congress of the United States An introductory article about the U.S. Congress. Online from Grolier's Online.

CongressLink Historical information about Congress, explanations of basic congressional procedures, and selections written by scholars and subject matter experts. Online from CongressLink.

In Congress Assembled: Continuity and Change in the Governing of the United States A teaching unit on the Constitution, Congress, and current events using documents from THOMAS and the Documents of the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, an American Memory collection at the National Digital Library of the Library of Congress. Online from the Learning Page of the Library of Congress.

Glossary of Senate Terms Defines terms used in the Senate and the legislative process. Online from the U.S. Senate Web Site.

A Map of Capitol Hill Online from the U.S. House of Representatives.

108th Congressional Pictorial Directory The 104th, 105th, 106th and 107th Congressional Pictorial Directories are also available. Online from the Government Printing Office.

Temple of Liberty: Building the Capitol for a New Nation Online from the Library of Congress.

The United States Capitol Home Page Online from the Architect of the Capitol.

A Virtual Tour of the United States Capitol Online from the U.S. Senate.