New approach traces policy idea flow in US Congress using text reuse analysis.
The Problem: Most bills fail to become law. Yet, successful legislation often contains language from other bills.
We introduce a novel method to track how specific policy ideas move between legislative drafts.
Our Methodology:
By analyzing text reuse across thousands of proposed bills, we map the journey of key phrases and concepts.
This approach reveals connections invisible through traditional methods.
Key Findings & Significance:
Successful legislation frequently originates from multiple failed drafts.
Tracking this flow illuminates legislative networks and influences.
Our findings offer fresh insights into the mechanics of lawmaking in Congress. ण
