A brief, accessible guide to the institution, Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch walks students through the inner workings of the modern Congress. Congressional experts Casey Burgat, Charles Hunt, and SoRelle Gaynor help students understand the branch by examining legislators' responsibilities toward constituents, the ways their backgrounds and perspectives influence their work, and the incentives that drive lawmaking in today's hyperpolarized Congress. In this updated Second Edition, new features, case studies, and data-based figures focus on changes to the institution over time and the ways individuals operate the pulls and levers of the branch to achieve legislative goals.