Which term describes a close relationship among an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group?

Which term describes a close relationship among an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group?

• A. Iron triangle
• B. Issue network
• C. Authorization legislation
• D. Government by proxy

Answer: (A)

A three-way policy-making alliance among a federal agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group is called the iron triangle. This arrangement works because each participant benefits from the arrangement: the agency gains political support and resources to implement its programs, the committee secures influence over funding and policy direction aligned with its constituents, and the interest group achieves favorable regulations or funding for its members. The result is a relatively stable, mutually advantageous pattern that can shape policy outcomes in a specific area, often making it hard for outside groups to change course. For example, in agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, the congressional committees that handle farm policy, and farm lobby groups coordinate to shape subsidies and regulations in ways that benefit producers. This is distinct from an issue network, which is a looser, more fluid web of many actors and shifting coalitions; it also differs from authorization legislation, which is a type of law setting up programs, and from government by proxy, which refers to outsourcing program implementation to private or state actors rather than a triad of coordinating actors.

A three-way policy-making alliance among a federal agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group is called the iron triangle. This arrangement works because each participant benefits from the arrangement: the agency gains political support and resources to implement its programs, the committee secures influence over funding and policy direction aligned with its constituents, and the interest group achieves favorable regulations or funding for its members. The result is a relatively stable, mutually advantageous pattern that can shape policy outcomes in a specific area, often making it hard for outside groups to change course. For example, in agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, the congressional committees that handle farm policy, and farm lobby groups coordinate to shape subsidies and regulations in ways that benefit producers. This is distinct from an issue network, which is a looser, more fluid web of many actors and shifting coalitions; it also differs from authorization legislation, which is a type of law setting up programs, and from government by proxy, which refers to outsourcing program implementation to private or state actors rather than a triad of coordinating actors.