Usually some aide to the cobgressman will answer and take your call. They will then make a note of the issue you called about and whether you are calling in support of opposition to some specific thing.

These notes will be summed up and briefed to the congressman as a group:

• 36 people called in support of the bill banning booty shorts

• 55 people called in opposition of the bill banning booty shorts

• 23 people called expressing their love and/or hatred of you, the president, and Smokey the Bear.

*Note: Above examples are deliberately absurd and not intended to imply anyone's opinion on booty shorts or Smokey the Bear

How much the affects the decisions of the congressman are difficult to determine with certainty, but telephone and writing campaigns from constituents have been cited as the reason for a given congressman's vote, and many congresmen will refrain from sponsoring or voting for bills if the believe it will result in hostile backlash, so there does appear to be some effect if there are enough people calling and writing about the same issue in one direction. This also likely varies wildly by the specific congressman