Iron Triangle Essay

The bureaucracy's policymaking role has often been demonstrated as what is now known as the "iron triangle". An iron triangle is a term used to describe the three way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats and interest groups to create, and uphold policies that benefit their corresponding interests; often referred to as "sub-governments", The policies that are established as well as the laws that are created and then passed, if functioning as it should, should benefit all three corners of the triangle.

In one corner, we have interests groups, which are organizations of citizens who share a common interest, and together they work to protect and to bring awareness to that specific interest by influencing the government. Interest groups have

the ability to sway the votes of congress in their favor by providing campaign contributions, electoral support for those in congress whom are supporting their interests and programs. They also have the ability to provide information on the industry, when congress is researching and considering legislation.
In a second corner, we have congress.

Members of congress serve in committees and subcommittees, in which they make rulings in specific fields. Congress determines the budget and funding, and they also have the ability to establish jurisdiction of the executive agencies and regulatory commissions that work in that field.

In a third corner, we have the bureaucracy. The bureaucratic department has the ability and power to set regulations and awarded contracts in the specified field. The bureaucrats are often pressured and swayed by the same powerful interest groups. The bureaucracy also receives its funding and political assistance from the Congress members who rely on an interest groups election support. Because of the pressure that is put on to them, the bureaucracy often upholds regulations that are favorable to the industry's interests.

This "Iron Triangle" works both ways. Due to Congress's desires of having the political support of the interest groups, we most often find them passing legislation which is favorable to the interest groups. Congress also grants "oversight" to the federal agencies that are associated with the interest group(s). Interest groups receive the support of congress for programs, as well as budget requests via lobbyists, which are people who try to persuade legislation on behalf of an interest group. The bureaucracy create policy choices that will win the favor of Congress's constituency within the interest

group.
A very common example of an “Iron Triangle” is in Agriculture; The food industry in one corner of the triangle as an interest group, agriculture committees in the house and senate in another corner, and lastly, the agriculture department within the bureaucracy in the final corner. Congress can propose a tax increase on goods coming into the country from other places, the interest group will then ask the bureaucracy to pass the proposed legislation into law in order to have less imports and more jobs for our country. In return, the interest group will fund the congressmen who voted for the legislation to be passed in their upcoming campaign. Bureaucracy can connect to congress by refusing to enforce the law, which would result in the interest group lobbying the congress, congress can then reduce the bureaucracy’s budget, as they have the power to regulate fund, and thus, manipulating the bureaucracy into actually enforcing what the interest group wants.
In conclusion, an iron triangle is key in policy making. It demonstrates the relationship between interest groups, congress, and the bureaucracy. In this iron triangle, each "corner" benefits from each other in multiple ways.