def bits_required(integer_value):
    """ Return the number of bits required to store the given integer.
    """
    assert type(integer_value) == int and integer_value >= 0, "The given number must be an integer greater than or equal to zero."

    # The bin built-in function converts the value to a binary string, but adds an '0b' prefix.
    # Count the length of the string, but subtract 2 for the '0b' prefix.
    return len(bin(integer_value)) - 2