Nonlinear Sciences – Adaptation and Self-Organizing Systems
Scientific paper
2007-08-08
Nonlinear Sciences
Adaptation and Self-Organizing Systems
8 pages, 4 figures (some with multiple parts), to appear in Physica A; additional background info and explanations added from
Scientific paper
10.1016/j.physa.2007.11.004
We study the United States Congress by constructing networks between Members of Congress based on the legislation that they cosponsor. Using the concept of modularity, we identify the community structure of Congressmen, as connected via sponsorship/cosponsorship of the same legislation, to investigate the collaborative communities of legislators in both chambers of Congress. This analysis yields an explicit and conceptually clear measure of political polarization, demonstrating a sharp increase in partisan polarization which preceded and then culminated in the 104th Congress (1995-1996), when Republicans took control of both chambers. Although polarization has since waned in the U.S. Senate, it remains at historically high levels in the House of Representatives.
Fowler James H.
Friend A. J.
Mucha Peter J.
Porter Mason A.
Traud Amanda L.
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