Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Identifying Central Actors: A Network Analysis Of The 2009-2010 Health Reform Debate, Jennifer Hayes Clark, Stacey Pelika, Elizabeth Rigby

Jennifer Hayes Clark

The fragmented design of American institutions intentionally diffuses authority among political actors. As a result, tracing the (often changing) distribution of power is essential to better understanding the policymaking process. In this paper, we capitalize on the current health care debate’s multidimensionality and its high salience, as reflected in the extensive media coverage it has attracted. Through network analysis of daily news articles from five news sources that vary in approach and audience, we assess the centrality of each Member of Congress to the health care debate in general, as well as at each stage of this recent policy debate. …