What is the Iron Triangle and how does it work?
Sep 23, 2021 · The iron triangle is a relationship in politics between bureaucracy, congress, and lobbyists that is of mutual benefit to all three parties. …
What are iron triangles and issue networks?
Apr 14, 2020 · It's called the iron triangle. The iron triangle is a mutually beneficial, three-way relationship between Congress, government bureaucrats, and special interest lobby groups. Each group does some action that will help the other group, creating a lasting and unbreakable bond between the three.
What are some examples of iron triangles?
In United States politics, the “iron triangle” comprises the policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups, as described in …
What is the Iron Triangle bureaucracy?
The phrase "iron triangle" is defined as the complex, three-way alliance that exists among the legislative branch of the United States government, its various bureaucratic agencies and special interests. These three key types of entities influence each other in myriad ways, a fact that has a serious impact on the American political system.
What is the iron triangle in simple terms?
An iron triangle is the term used to describe a relationship that develops between congressional committees, the federal bureaucracy and interest groups during the policy creation process. The relationship between these three actors occurs naturally over time down to close proximity in which all of them work together.Mar 22, 2021
What are the three points of the iron triangle?
The relationship between congress(especially Sub-Committees), Government agencies(Bureaucracy), and interest groups. This helps create policy in the United States and all 3 parts want to protect their own self interests.
What is an iron triangle example?
An example of such an iron triangle would be the American Association for Retired People (AARP), the House Subcommittee on Aging, and the Social Security Administration all working together to set government policy on Social Security. Advisers, bookkeepers, secretaries.
Why is iron triangle important?
The Iron Triangle establishes relationships between the most influential and informed groups in specific sectors affecting the nation. Improved communication between these groups can grease the wheels of policymaking and sometimes translate into a faster and cheaper public good.
What iron triangle is important to the Sierra Club?
The EPA, the Sierra Club and the Senate committee on Environment and Public Works form an iron triangle or policy network. The EPA is responsible for regulating the pollutants in our environment. The Sierra Club is a PAC with a strong interest in curbing pollution and protecting the environment.
Which of the following is an example of the iron triangle problem?
which of the following is an example of an iron triangle? Interest groups are like construction workers or companies launching to build more roads or highways. They have to go to Congress to get electoral support. what benefit do you receive from the iron triangle?
How does the iron triangle function?
The Iron Triangle is a concept, not an institution. It is the idea that committees in the House and Senate, federal departments and agencies, and think tanks and interest groups all work together to develop and conserve their own power, and expand their political influence.Mar 1, 2022
How does the iron triangle apply to healthcare?
The “Iron Triangle” in health care refers to the concept that access, cost and quality cannot all be simultaneously improved. The premise is that an improvement in one area results in a decline in at least one of the others.
What is the iron triangle?
In United States politics, the "iron triangle" comprises the policy -making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups, as described in 1981 by Gordon Adams.
Why is the Iron Triangle called a sub-government?
The result is a three-way, stable alliance that sometimes is called a sub-government because of its durability, impregnability, and power to determine policy. An iron triangle relationship can result in the passing of very narrow, pork-barrel policies that benefit a small segment of the population.
What is the central assumption of the Iron Triangle?
Central to the concept of an iron triangle is the assumption that bureaucratic agencies, as political entities, seek to create and consolidate their own power base. In this view an agency's power is determined by its constituency, not by its consumers.
Who is in the third corner of the triangle?
Occupying the third corner of the triangle are bureaucrats, who often are pressured by the same powerful interest groups their agency is designated to regulate, and in some cases have close ties to the regulated industry.
What is the power of a private interest group?
Private or special interest groups, on the other hand, possess considerable power as they tend to be well-organized, have plenty of resources, are easily mobilized, and are extremely active in political affairs, through voting, campaign contributions, and lobbying, as well as proposing legislation themselves.
What is the iron triangle?
The term " iron triangle " is a term used to describe the dynamics of policy-making between special interest groups, Congress and governmental agencies. The interrelationship between these three factions can create a self-sufficient (and sometimes corrupt) sub governmental situation in which American citizens' best interests are ignored in favor ...
Why is the Iron Triangle so strong?
The iron triangle created by these three groups (special interest groups, Congress, and government bureaucracies and agencies) is strong because of their reliance on one another to achieve their own agendas. This runs the risk of de-prioritizing citizen needs in favor of political gains.
Why are special interest groups important?
Special interest groups are a key element in the iron triangle because they can create a governmental situation in which their lobbyists have an undue influence on government. Here are some examples:
What is the third corner of the Iron Triangle?
Bureaucracies and Government Agencies. The third corner of the iron triangle are the government bureaucracies and agencies that function as the implementation arm of policies and procedures passed by Congress . Congress is their key source of funding. This synergistic effect can lead to decisions being implemented that may be in favor ...
What is the Sierra Club's goal?
As such, the Sierra Club lobbies to have its goals met, including passing Cap and Trade to fight global warming. Government agencies and Congress may choose to respond to the needs of the Sierra Club, even if it puts them at odds with voters on key issues such as the Keystone Pipeline.
Can a lobbyist be an ally to the corn farmers?
As long as the congressperson works towards policies that are beneficial to ethanol production, the lobbyist may, in turn, be very influential in promoting the congressperson as an ally to the corn farmers. This could raise the congressperson's chances of reelection. Advertisement.
What is the Iron Triangle?
The Iron Triangle is a concept, not an institution. It is the idea that committees in the House and Senate, federal departments and agencies, and think tanks and interest groups all work together to develop and conserve their own power, and expand their political influence. There are agencies of the federal government, ...
Why are iron triangles called sub-governments?
This too, while building their expertise, makes them less responsive to the demands of the public, and even to the influence of elections.
What are interest groups, bureaucracy and congressional committees?
The interest groups, bureaucracy and congressional committees are each other’s constituents, as opposed to consumers. The consumers are the American people. When federal agencies and members of Congress become more interested in satisfying their constituents—to get campaign donations, for example—than their consumers, the American public loses out.
What are the benefits of the Iron Triangle?
2. All three of the main groups in these Iron Triangles benefit from keeping the relationships in place. 3. Lobby and interest groups keep government officials who support their pet issues in power and help the officials to maintain their contracts, jobs and benefits. 4.
Why do interest groups use iron triangles?
Interest groups use iron triangles to provide the government with policy knowledge, lobby the government, and provide government officials with campaign donations. All of these activities are intended to influence government policy.
Do Americans benefit from iron triangles?
The American public—the consumers—sometimes benefit from Iron Triangles, but often don’t. As you prepare for the AP® US Government & Politics exam, have some specific examples of Iron Triangles/issue networks so that you can illustrate your points.
Do iron triangles act in the public interest?
In doing so, however, they may not act in the overall public interest. (a) Explain how interest groups use issue networks (also known as iron triangles) to influence government decision making. First, don’t forget that iron triangles and issue networks are the same thing. Multiple-choice questions might not make this clear.
Overview
In United States politics, the "iron triangle" comprises the policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups, as described in 1981 by Gordon Adams. Earlier mentions of this ‘iron triangle’ concept are in a 1956 Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report as, “Iron triangle: Clout, background, and outlook” and “Chinks in the Iron Triangle?”
Central assumption
Central to the concept of an iron triangle is the assumption that bureaucratic agencies, as political entities, seek to create and consolidate their own power base.
In this view an agency's power is determined by its constituency, not by its consumers. (For these purposes, "constituents" are politically active members sharing a common interest or goal; consumers are the expected recipients of goods or services provided by a governmental bureau…
Cultivation of constituency
The need of a bureaucracy for a constituency sometimes leads to an agency's cultivation of a particular clientele. An agency may seek out those groups (within its policy jurisdiction) that might make the best allies and give it the most clout within the political arena.
Often, especially in a low-level bureaucracy, the consumers (the declared beneficiaries of an agency's services) do not qualify as power brokers and thus, are perceived as poor constituents…
Dynamics
In the United States, power is exercised in the Congress, and, particularly, in congressional committees and subcommittees. By aligning itself with selected constituencies, an agency may be able to affect policy outcomes directly in these committees and subcommittees. This is where an iron triangle may manifest itself.
The image above displays the concept. At one corner of the triangle are interest groups (constit…
See also
• Iron law of oligarchy
• Issue Network
• Policy
• Polity
• Policy analysis
Bibliography
• Gordon Adams. The Iron Triangle: The Politics of Defense Contracting, Council on Economic Priorities, New York, 1981. ISBN 0-87871-012-4
• Graham T. Allison, Philip Zelikow; Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis, Pearson Longman; ISBN 0-321-01349-2 (2nd edition, 1999)