Question

What is the iron triangle and why does it matter?  Your response should be one to two pages long.

Answer 1

Ans) The "Iron Triangle":

Definition- Mutually dependent relationship between the three entities when it comes to policy making. all tightly related and have a long standing ALLIANCE.

- 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.

Congress congressional support, via lobby Qlow regulation, special favors

- The iron triangle, sometimes called a subgovernment, consists of interest groups, members of congressional subcommittees, and agency bureaucrats.

- Triangles = steady partner in ALL 3 points and way more unified and allied.

• Bureaucratic Agency -> IG

can provide favorable legislation

IG -> Bureaucratic Agency

can provide info and expertise to bureaucratic agencies. can also lobby congress on the agencies behalf which would in turn indirectly impact the agency

Bureaucratic Agency -> Congressional Committee

can provide specialized knowledge. can help the committee do case work = better rep for committee. can also pass favorable regulation

Congressional Committee -> Bureaucratic Agency

can use favorable oversight (or the lack of which can be better for the agency bc they can do more of what they want). can also exert favorable appropriation of money towards that agency. can pass favorable legislation that the agencies then interpret and implement and create regulation from.

• Congressional Committee -> IG

can vote to benefit the IG/ pass favorable legislation (listens to the lobbyists and passes legis bc of that)

IG -> Congressional Committee

can provide info and expertise. can also support election efforts through donating money (with PACs or indep expend), publishing ads, grassroots mobilization of people and getting mass people to support the committee and its decisions.

Iron triangle matters because:

- The iron triangle is a form of client politics, that is, it is only beneficial to few, but a large part of society will pay the cost. They are also very difficult to penetrate or influence from outside of the iron triangle.