To provide a small brush device in which a plurality of positive and negative pole brush members are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction, and to provide a rotary electric machine with the brush member.

The brush member has a brush holder made of an insulating material, a plurality of brush housings formed on the brush holder, a positive pole terminal plate having a plurality of first and second brush members housed in the brush housings and disposed on the brush holder, a terminal cover disposed on the positive pole terminal plate, and a negative pole terminal plate disposed on the terminal cover. The insulative terminal cover is attached between the positive pole terminal plate and the negative pole terminal plate, so that the positive pole terminal plate never contacts the negative pole terminal plate. Accordingly, the positive pole terminal plate is arranged closely to the negative pole terminal plate to miniaturize the brush device and also miniaturize a self starter motor with the brush device.