Iron Triangles
How do interest groups help the bureaucracy?
Give the bureaucracy useful statistics, information, political support and funding. The bureaucratic agencies then gain favorable remarks and testimonials in regards to their services.
Iron triangle with the Military Industrial Complex
Interest groups in this example are the Military construction contracting firms, These groups send money and information the way members of Congress In return for the information and funding, Congress passes favorable bills and higher budgets for the Department of Defense Department of Defense with the higher budget gets to spend more money on new weapons and vehicles for the military They give these contracts to build these weapons and vehicles to the construction firms that funded the members of Congress in the first leg
What is the difference between an issue network and an iron triangle?
Issue networks Only form to accomplish a specific policy goal and disband after the goal has been met
What is an issue network?
Temporary groups that come together to accomplish a specific goal around an issue, Members of an issue network may be members of both the public and private sectors May include interest groups, citizens, government agencies, groups of legislators, the media, and think tanks
How do Congress and the bureaucracy benefit interest groups?
They pass laws and policies beneficial to these groups, and the bureaucracy helps enforce them.
Gun Control Issue networks
When a mass shooting happens, typically an issue network forms to pass through legislation on gun control, The interest group March For Our Lives, Congressional Democrats, and left leaning media outlets all join together to pass legislation, once passed, the network disbands until another gun related policy issue emerges
Why is it called the iron triangle?
because the relationship is so beneficial to all three parties involved that there is no way to break it
What are the consequences of the Iron Triangle?
the average American cannot influence where their tax dollars are being spent because the iron triangle excludes them from the policy making process
What are iron triangles?
the unbreakable relationship that forms between Congress, interest groups, and bureaucracy. all elements of the triangle keep the others happy and create a mutually sustainable relationship.
