How Congress Works and Why We Should Care Many Americans in today's society will find it difficult to answer the question of what exactly Congress does and why it exists. Others simply don't care and see Congress as a failed system where nothing gets done. Lee Hamilton, in his book Why Congress Works and Why you Should Care, proves these people wrong and provides an inside look at what Congress actually does and how it affects every American every day. Congress has come a long way since its creation, but its role has not changed. Although there is much criticism of the way Congress is run, the system is an integral part of American government. Its main and most important task is to represent the most diverse opinions of the American people and this is not as easy as it seems. It can be a difficult process for Congress to reach agreement on these issues because its members come from all over America with different opinions about what is right and what is wrong. The majority of Americans believe that the public agrees on most issues, but this is not true. America is an extremely diverse nation with different opinions on various issues. With all the different people in the country it is not unusual to have different opinions and beliefs. The legislative branch of government is a complex system divided into two branches, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both have different tasks. The public's favorite branch is the House of Representatives because people feel they can relate more to their representatives than to senators. This is another important aspect of the role MPs have in representing their constituents. Members of Congress are elected to be the voice of their constituency, and people rely on them to make sure their problems are heard and resolved. In the book, Lee Hamilton talks about a gentleman named Wilbur Mills, who is a powerful legislator from Arkansas. As they walked through Washington, he mentioned that he was going to a small town in Arkansas to hold a public meeting with about twenty people. He told Hamilton, "Lee, never forget your constituents. Nothing, nothing comes before them." (p.53) It is very important for members of Congress to stay connected to their constituents, not only are they the people who keep them in office, but they are also the people who count on him/her to express their thoughts and worries.