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2.9 Iron Triangles

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Iron Triangle Examples

The term "iron triangle Links to an external site." 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 of receiving special favors and regulation changes for passing particular legislation.

Other times, special interest groups (SIGs) like the National Rifle Association (NRA) will lobby to have meaningful laws passed that protect a certain group of people. Let's take a look at the good and the bad with the following iron triangle examples.

 

The Iron Triangle: Special Interest Groups

Special interest groups Links to an external site. 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:

Key Special Interest Groups

Now that we've covered some important topics such as religious and racial special interest groups, let's take a look at the wide variety of special interest groups that exist to protect the lives Links to an external site. of people all across the nation.

American Civil Liberties Union

American Israel Public Affairs Committee

Americans for Democratic Action

The Aggressive Progressives

Amnesty International USA

Common Cause

The Concord Coalition

Democratic Leadership Council

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

Families USA

Family Research Council

The Federalist Society

Feminist Majority Foundation

Greenpeace USA

Human Rights Campaign

The Interfaith Alliance

The John Birch Society

Latino Vote

The Militia Watchdog

National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League

National Committee for an Effective Congress

National Organization for Women

National Republican Congressional Committee

National Republican Senatorial Committee

National Right to Life Committee

People for the American Way

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

The Right Side of the Web

Southern Poverty Law Center

Veterans of Foreign Wars

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Congress

Another corner of the iron triangle is Congress Links to an external site.. Congress exchanges "friendly legislation" to interest groups as well as bureaucrats and governmental agencies in order to gain their support in elections. As a result:

  • Bureaucrats and agencies receive less oversight and gain the ability to more freely execute policy.

  • Special interest groups, bureaucrats and agencies receive special favors and lowered regulation.

Individuals within Congress often forge these alliances with special interest groups and bureaucrats as a source of information. They select the groups they align with based on the subject matter discussed in their assigned committees.

For example, a congressperson from the Midwest who is a member of the Agriculture Committee in the House of Representatives may rely on a lobbyist from the ethanol industry to provide industry stats and facts about the benefits of using corn for ethanol production Links to an external site.. 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.

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Committees in the House of Representatives

Congress contains two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Every state in the U.S. has at least one house representative and two senators. These members work together (or in opposition to one another) to create, enforce, and interpret our laws.

The House of Representatives has a list of committees Links to an external site. that review laws and oversee various activities within certain jurisdictions:

Agriculture

Appropriations

Armed Services

Budget

Education and Labor

Energy and Commerce

Ethics

Financial Services

Foreign Affairs

Homeland Security

House Administration

Judiciary

Natural Resources

Oversight and Reform

Rules

Science, Space, and Technology

Small Business

Transportation and Infrastructure

Veterans' Affairs

Ways and Means

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress

 

Committees in the Senate

By the same token, Senate members will gather together in their committees to discuss various bills and oversee important agencies. Here's a list of Senate committees Links to an external site.:

Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

Appropriations

Armed Services

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Budget

Commerce, Science and Transportation

Energy and Natural Resources

Environment and Public Works

Finance

Foreign Relations

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Indian Affairs

Judiciary

Rules and Administration

Select Committee on Ethics

Select Committee on Intelligence

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Special Committee on Aging

Veterans' Affairs

 

Joint Committees

Joint committees involve members from both houses of Congress. Typically, they have narrow jurisdictions and alternate chairmanship between each house.

Joint Economic Committee

Joint Committee on the Library

Joint Committee on Printing

Joint Committee on Taxation

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 of Congress or the agency, but not in the best interests of the citizens.

For example, Amtrak can convince Congress to reduce some of the regulations on train safety as a way to cut costs, even though the changes could be detrimental to the future safety of the train riders. While it's impossible to list every department agency Links to an external site., here's a healthy list to help you get started:

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau

American Battle Monuments Commission

AmeriCorps

Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Antitrust Division

Appalachian Regional Commission

Architect of the Capitol

Arctic Research Commission

Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

Bureau of Industry and Security

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Bureau of Prisons

Bureau of Reclamation

Bureau of the Census

Bureau of the Public Debt

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO)

Farm Credit Administration

Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation

Farm Service Agency

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

Merit Systems Protection Board

Migratory Bird Conservation Commission

Military Postal Service Agency

Millennium Challenge Corporation

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Minority Business Development Agency

Mint

National Archives and Records Administration (Archives)

Radio Free Asia (RFA)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)

Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)

Regulatory Information Service Center

Research and Innovative Technology Administration

Risk Management Agency

Rural Business and Cooperative Programs

Rural Development

Rural Housing Service

Rural Utilities Service

Achieving the "Right" Agenda

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.

Iron Triangle Links to an external site.

 

 

Comedy Central explains the Iron Triangle

 

 

 

2.8 Making Agencies Accountable 3.1 Assigned Videos- Bureaucracy