Which of the following describes an example of policy development within an iron triangle?

In American politics, there are official as well as unofficial institutions that shape the development of policy and the administration of government. The AP® US Government & Politics exam will test your knowledge of these institutions, as well as how these institutions work together.

The policymaking relationship between congressional committees, the bureaucracy and interest groups is referred to as the Iron Triangle.

What is an 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, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, that are tasked with providing services to consumers—the American public. This DFA, for example, provides veterans with medical and financial benefits.

In Congress, there are corresponding committees and subcommittees—such as the House Committee on Veterans Affairs—that make policy on matters relating to veterans affairs, including what types of benefits to give to veterans and how to disperse them.

Outside of government, there are various interest groups, such as the VFW—the Veterans of Foreign Wars—that advocate for veterans. This advocacy includes performing research and issuing reports about veterans’ issues, as well as educating and lobbying Congress.

These three groups—congressional committees, bureaucracies and interest groups—have a symbiotic relationship. They are the corners, or bases, of the Iron Triangle.

It is in the best interest of the Department of Veterans Affairs to keep its corresponding congressional committee satisfied, as it votes on issues—especially, funding—that will affect bureaucrats’ jobs and career prospects, as well as expand their operations, along with their influence.

It is in the interest of both congressional committees and the bureaucracy to keep the interest groups satisfied, as the interest groups provide them with policy expertise they might not otherwise have, and spend lavishly on campaign donations and other forms of political assistance.

Interest groups also have a big influence on public opinion, via advertising campaigns and through grassroots outreach, and can thus shape the public’s perception of the congressional committees and bureaucracy.

If members of Congress and bureaucrats are perceived to be doing lousy jobs, their careers are in jeopardy. On the flip side, if the interest groups approve of a congressman’s or a bureaucrat’s work, they can help improve his public image and influence.

The interest groups work so closely with congress and the bureaucracy in order to see their policy goals implemented. For example, if the VFW wants more money for veterans’ housing, its efforts will revolve around that goal.

And so, the links between these three bases of power form the sides of the Iron Triangle.

Easy enough, right? Now let’s look at some of the implications of these relationships.

Benefits of the Iron Triangle

In order to pass quality legislation, Congress needs access to lots of research and expertise. It would be impossible for Congress, or the bureaucracy, to employ a team of experts to deal with every issue that comes before it.

In this sense, the relationship these institutions have with interest groups is very beneficial to the public. The interest groups have experts and specialized knowledge, and can help Congress craft effective legislation.

Furthermore, these interest groups—and in particular, think tanks—can serve as farm teams for future government employees. If Democrats, for example, are out of power for four years, with Republicans controlling the presidency, House and Senate, the Democrats’ allied interest groups can help them formulate new policies and ideas to present to the American public.

When Democrats are elected, some employees of these interest groups and think tanks might be hired to work in the bureaucracy, giving the government the benefit of their knowledge.

Drawbacks of the Iron Triangle

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.

The various Iron Triangles that form are often called sub-governments, as they are often impregnable, durable and incredibly influential. This too, while building their expertise, makes them less responsive to the demands of the public, and even to the influence of elections. Most bureaucrats remain in place even after a switch in party control of the presidency or Congress.

These sub-governments can produce sub-par legislation that benefits only the interest groups that are a part of the sub-government, or narrow, pork-barrel policies that benefit only one, small segment of the population.

For example, if interest groups representing Big Oil or the timber industry have a massive amount of influence over the Environmental Protection Agency or its environmental committees in the House and Senate, environment-friendly legislation and policies might not be passed.

Instead, policies favoring the expansion of drilling and logging might be favored. A financial imbalance creates a big difference in the political clout of interest groups. Big Oil has hundreds of millions, environmental groups much less, for example—and so Big Oil has a louder voice in Congress and the bureaucracy.

Other Aspects of the Iron Triangle

As mentioned, sometimes the employees of interest groups go to work for the government. The reverse happens, too: sometimes, after years in Congress, a member retires and is rewarded with a high-paying job at a think tank or interest group. This is sometimes referred to as a ‘golden parachute.’

In recent years, laws have been passed to restrict employment relationships between members of Congress and interest groups—there is a two-year ban on lobbying, for example—but the problem persists. A member of Congress is likely to take the demands of an interest group very seriously if a upper-six-figure job awaits when his or her term in Congress expires.

It’s a relatively simple concept, which boils down to the old adage—you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

Issue Networks

In some readings you will see Iron Triangles referred to as issue networks. They are the same thing. An Iron Triangle typically forms around a specific issue—healthcare, trade, transportation, etc.

A Practice AP® US Government Free-Response Question

Let’s look at part of a free-response question that asks about Iron Triangles.

Interest groups seek to influence political processes in ways that benefit their members. 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. Now, here you can give a pretty straightforward answer. 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.

Key Takeaways

There are a few simple points to remember about Iron Triangles as you prepare for the AP® US Government & Politics exam:

1. The issues that come before the government are now so vast and complex that small government units (like congressional committees) now find themselves in charge of specific areas of policymaking.

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. 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.

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