Which of the following is the best example of two points of an iron triangle at work

Video transcript

- [Instructor] Now a related idea to just what a bureaucracy is in our federal government. Another question is how do they get influenced? Now one idea that you might see in many American government courses is the idea of an iron triangle. So an iron triangle describes how various parties might influence each other and what they might do for each other. So let's say that there is a group that is very interested in building more roads. Maybe there's a group that represents all the road contractors in the United States, and they would love more highways to be built because there'd be more business for them. And so then that interest group, who wants more highways to be built, they might say, hey, congresspeople, we want more highways built. The way that they try to get favor with Congress is through electoral support. Now what kind of electoral support could they give? Well, they could donate money to the congressmen directly. They could donate money to political parties. They could try to activate the electorate to vote for a congressperson who favors their agenda more than someone else. In exchange, congresspeople could do a few things. They could provide more funding to the bureaucracy that is going to build roads, and we just talked about that bureaucracy in the executive branch. That bureaucracy, not only might they build more roads, but if they like those interest groups, they might lower their regulations on them. They might give them more contracts as they build those roads. Another thing that Congress could do for the interest group is pass friendly legislation. So maybe pass a law that makes it easier to build roads in a certain part of the country or in a certain way. But the reason why it's called an iron triangle, it's not just about what do interest groups want. It's also what does Congress want? What does the bureaucracy want, and what do they get from the other two parties? So we already talked about how Congress can get electoral support from interest groups, but what can it get from a bureaucracy? Congress passes laws and a budget, but a bureaucracy, for the most part, decides how to execute on that. And so if they are aligned with Congress, they might execute on those laws with a little bit more energy. If the bureaucracy, for one reason or another, is not as gung ho about those laws, they might drag their feet a little bit. And from the bureaucracy point of view? Well, we already talked about how they could get funding and political support from Congress. You see that on that part of the triangle there. What do they get from the interest groups? Well, we already talked about the congressional support, which they can do by supporting congresspeople who might support favorable policies for the bureaucracy. The interest groups might be able to directly lobby Congress, which means, hey, we're going to meet with Congress. We might even draft some things for the policy agenda. Now a related idea to an iron triangle in interest groups that you might also hear in an American government course is the notion of issue networks. One way to think about issue networks is they are essentially more informal than interest groups. Interest groups can be part of an issue network, but an issue network can be, let's say, you and I start to get really activated about something we get on TV, and then we start mailing our congresspeople, and we start blogging about it, and we start getting a following, and then that starts to influence an interest group. Or an interest group joins with us, and then we start to send messages to Congress. We start to provide more scrutiny on the bureaucracy. Then we would be an issue network, and as I mentioned, issue networks might not be formal. They might not be a formal, let's say, lobbying group or interest group, but they can also have influence in the same way that an interest group does.

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Why could iron triangles be considered fundamentally detrimental to a democratic society?

Possible Answers:

It renders the impact of political accountability less substantial by ensuring that incumbents nearly always get reelected.

It takes power away from the Judiciary and places too much power in the hands of the Legislative Branch.

Too much power is wielded by the Judicial Branch at the sake of the Legislative and Executive Branches.

It takes power away from the common people by negating the impact they are able to wield in senate elections.

The general welfare and common good are forsaken so as to advance narrow and specific interests.

Correct answer:

The general welfare and common good are forsaken so as to advance narrow and specific interests.

Explanation:

An Iron Triangle is when a bureaucratic agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee works together to advance its own agenda and act in its own interests. It is generally considered detrimental to a healthy democratic process because it ignores the interests of the common good for the sake of advancing specific and narrow interests.

Which of the following is an example of an Iron Triangle?

Possible Answers:

Monsanto donating money to conservative congressmen

Congress increasing funding to the Department of Agriculture in exchange for lower regulations on corn production

Congress passing a new budget that expands funding for several Departments

The Department of Education releasing a new policy that requires a higher Reading standard in public schools 

None of the answers are correct

Correct answer:

Congress increasing funding to the Department of Agriculture in exchange for lower regulations on corn production

Explanation:

Congress giving more funding to the Department of Agriculture (the bureaucracy) would expand the DoA's power base. In return, agricultural lobbying groups (special interests) would gain lower regulation for their constituents. Most likely, Congress would receive electoral funding promises for its efforts. This answer best represents all three point of the Iron Triangle.

What are the possible concerns surrounding the Military-Industrial Complex?

Possible Answers:

It can lead to a misallocation of government resources

It can hurt military self-sustainability 

It can cause unnecessary wars

It encourages corruption

All of these answers are correct

Correct answer:

All of these answers are correct

Explanation:

There are many concerns regarding the Military-Industrial Complex, including corrupting politicians, disproportionate military spending, an incentive to wage war on others, and private corporations gaining too much control over our ability to wage war.

What about the Iron Triangle could be considered problematic?

Possible Answers:

None of these answers accurately reflect a potential downside of the Iron Triangle.

It encourages a goal of cooperating for power instead of pursuing the public good  

It doesn't include the judiciary branch

It increases communication between the legislative and executive branches

It means corporations will be able to make higher profits

Correct answer:

It encourages a goal of cooperating for power instead of pursuing the public good  

Explanation:

The biggest problem with the Iron Triangle is it encourages government agencies to pursue more power and funding instead of the public good. Oftentimes, the Iron Triangle will even result in sacrificing the public good in exchange for power, such as lowering environmental protections in exchange for oil money donations that don't benefit the public.

What is a possible benefit of the Iron Triangle?

Possible Answers:

None of the answers are correct.

Increasing the flow of political contributions makes for faster elections

All of the answers are correct.

Decreasing the influence of interest groups on Congress

Increased cooperation can lead to more efficient policy change

Correct answer:

Increased cooperation can lead to more efficient policy change

Explanation:

The Iron Triangle establishes relationships between the most influential and informed groups in specific sectors affecting the nation. Improved communication between these groups can grease the wheels of policymaking and sometimes translate into a faster and cheaper public good.

What is a possible benefit of the Military-Industrial Complex?

Possible Answers:

Improved relations with other countries

A second opinion on war strategy

Decreased reliance on private funding for government projects

A more efficient chain of command

Improved economic growth during times of war

Correct answer:

Improved economic growth during times of war

Explanation:

The economic stimulus of having the private sector produce tools of war is well documented. Many economists and historians believe that World War II is the real reason the Great Depression ever ended (instead of FDR's New Deal). None of the other options are considered a benefit of this system (in fact, most of them are drawbacks of the system).

Which of the following is a modern day example of the Military-Industrial Complex?

Possible Answers:

None of these answers are correct

The US has had the most military success of any country in history

The US has the most advanced nuclear arsenal in the world

The US accounts for almost half of the world's total military spending 

The US has the most efficient economy in the world

Correct answer:

The US accounts for almost half of the world's total military spending 

Explanation:

The US has what many consider a ridiculously disproportionate military budget, which is at least partially a result of powerful defense group lobbying. Such spending has increased radically, since World War II, widely considered the beginning of the Military-Industrial Complex era.

The "golden parachute" refers to what?

Possible Answers:

None of these answers is accurate.

A backup measure placed in legislation in the event a project runs out of funding

Depositing remaining campaign funds into one's personal account during a withdrawal from the race

None of these answers are correct

Demoting a revealed-as-corrupt politician to a cushy, less-public position instead of actually punishing he or she

Correct answer:

None of these answers are correct

Explanation:

While many of these answers sound plausible, the golden parachute generally refers to when a politician involved in an Iron Triangle is promised a well-paying job after his or her stay in government in exchange for political favors. This sometimes also works the other way, with government positions being awarded to generous lobbyists. The idea is that someone can "jump" from the public sector to the private and "settle" comfortably in financial terms.

What could average citizens do to most effectively diminish the integrity of an Iron Triangle?

Possible Answers:

Organize protests against specific corporations

None of these answers is correct.

Petition the President to dismiss any executive officials that demonstrate signs of corruption

Write letters to Congressmen requesting they stay away from interest groups

Elect Congressmen with a convincing history of avoiding corruption and private influence

Correct answer:

Elect Congressmen with a convincing history of avoiding corruption and private influence

Explanation:

While the other options may have some effect, they're either unlikely to be effective or won't dismantle the entire Iron Triangle. Only electing politicians that will reject the influence of special interest groups may be a difficult task, but it would be most effective at reducing the power of an Iron Triangle. The principle here, is that the Iron Triangle is quite strong against external influences, and must change from the inside.

The mutual cooperation between bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to expand power and forward interests is generally known as what?

Possible Answers:

The Iron Triangle

None of the other answers are correct

The Congressional Compromise

The 3-Branch Dilemma

The Military Industrial Complex

Correct answer:

The Iron Triangle

Explanation:

The Iron Triangle is used to describe the conspiratorial relationship between bureaucracies, congressional committees, and interest groups. These three points on the triangle often cooperate to further their own financial gains and interests. The Iron Triangle is often used negatively to describe actions that benefit these groups personally but don't benefit the general public (such as lowering regulations for interest groups and to save money for Congressmen). While the Military-Industrial Complex is often considered an example of an Iron Triangle, Iron Triangle is the best choice here.

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Which of the following is an example of an iron triangle?

Which of the following best describes an iron triangle?

What are the three points of the iron triangle?

How does the iron triangle work?