Elements of the Iron Triangle
Special Interest Groups
Special interest groups are frequently a key element in the iron triangle since they can create a
governmental situation in which their lobbyists have an undue influence on government.
Here are a few iron triangle examples:
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The Sierra Club can lobby to have its goals met, including blocking the Keystone Pipeline and passing
Cap and Trade to fight global warming. Government agencies and Congress may choose to respond
to the needs of the Sierra Club, even if it puts them at odds with most voters on an issue such as the
Keystone Pipeline.
The NRA can lobby to block new gun control measures. This can become an iron triangle issue if
politicians respond to the NRA lobbyists and block an initiative such as universal background checks,
even if the initiative is supported by most voters.
The food industry can lobby to maintain the benefits for farmers and food processors from agricultural
subsidies, even if the cost of food increases.
Large defense contractors can work with Defense Department officials to convince them to use their
congressional funding to order products, supplies and manpower from a specific defense contractor
even if the cost is significantly higher than market prices.
The AARP can lobby to prevent any cuts or changes in Social Security or Medicare. Even if it would
be in the best long term interest of the public for these programs to be reformed so they are more
sustainable, politicians may listen to the special interests represented by the AARP.
The Christian Coalition can lobby for laws that restrict abortion. This becomes an iron triangle situation
if these laws are passed, even though most of the public would prefer fewer restrictions.
Key Special Interest Groups
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American Civil Liberties Union
AFL/CIO - American Federation of
Labor/Congress of Industrial
Organizatons
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Americans for Democratic Action
AARP - American Association for Retired
Persons
Americans United for the Separation of
Church and State
Amnesty International USA
The Christian Coalition
Democratic Leadership Council
Families USA
Family Research Council
The Federalist Society
The Feminist Majority
Free-Market.net
Greenpeace USA
Human Rights Campaign
The Interfaith Alliance
LatinoVote
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The Militia Watchdog
National Abortion and Reproductive
Rights Action League
NAACP - National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People
National Committee for an Effective
Congress
National Organization for Women
National Republican Senatorial
Committee
National Rifle Association
National Right to Life Committee
People for the American Way
People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals
Planned Parenthood Federation of
America
The Right Side of the Web
The Sierra Club
Southern Poverty Law Center
Veterans of Foreign Wars
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Congress
Another corner of the iron triangle is Congress. Congress exchanges "friendly legislation" to interest
groups as well as bureaucrats and governmental agencies in order to get their support in elections.
As a result:
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Bureaucrats and agencies receive less oversight and gain the ability to more freely execute
policy.
 Special interest groups, bureaucrats and agencies receive special favors and lowered
regulation.
Individuals within Congress often forge these alliances with special interest groups and bureaucrats
as a source of information. They select the groups they align with based on the subject matters
discussed in their assigned committees.
For example, a congressperson from the Midwest who is a member of the Agriculture committee in
the House of Representatives may rely on a lobbyist from the ethanol industry to provide industry
stats and facts about the benefits of using corn for ethanol production. As long as the
congressperson works towards policies that are beneficial to ethanol production, the lobbyist may, in
turn, be very influential in promoting the congressperson as an ally to the corn farmers. This could
raise the congressperson's chances of reelection.
Committees in the House of Representatives
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Agriculture
Appropriations
Armed Services
Budget
Education and the Workforce
Energy and Commerce
Ethics
Financial Services
Foreign Affairs
Homeland Security
House Administration
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Intelligence (Permanent Select)
Judiciary
Natural Resources
Oversight and Government Reform
Rules
Science, Space, and Technology
Small Business
Transportation and Infrastructure
Veterans' Affairs
Ways and Means
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Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs
Indian Affairs
Intelligence (Select)
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Judiciary
Rules and Administration
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Veterans' Affairs
Committees in the Senate
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Aging (Special)
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Appropriations
Armed Services
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Budget
Commerce, Science and Transportation
Energy and Natural Resources
Ethics (Select)
Environment and Public Works
Finance
Foreign Relations
Joint committees of the House and Senate
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Economic
Library
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Printing
Taxation
Bureaucracies and Government Agencies
The third side of the iron triangle are the government bureaucracies and agencies that function as
the implementation arm of policies and procedures passed by Congress. Congress is their key
source of funding. This synergistic effect can lead to decisions being implemented that may be in the
favor of Congress or the agency, but not in the best interests of the citizens.
For example, Amtrak can convince Congress to reduce some of the regulations on train safety as a
way to cut costs, even though the changes could be detrimental to the future safety of the train
riders.
Key Bureacracies and Government Agencies
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Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade
Bureau
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives Bureau
American Battle Monuments Commission
AmeriCorps
Amtrak
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
Antitrust Division
Appalachian Regional Commission
Architect of the Capitol
Archives (National Archives and Records
Administration)
Arctic Research Commission
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
Bureau of Industry and Security
Bureau of International Labor Affairs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Bureau of Prisons
Bureau of Reclamation
Bureau of the Census
Bureau of the Public Debt
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
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Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
(FHEO)
Farm Credit System Insurance
Corporation
Farm Service Agency
Mediation and Concitiation Service, Office
of
Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access
Commission
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
Merit Systems Protection Board
Migratory Bird Conservation Commission
Military Postal Service Agency
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Minority Business Development Agency
Mint
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL)
Refugee Resettlement, Office of
Regulatory Information Service Center
Research and Innovative Technology
Administration
Risk Management Agency (Agriculture
Department)
Rural Business and Cooperative
Programs
Rural Development
Rural Housing Service
Rural Utilities Service
The iron triangle that these three groups (special interest groups, Congress and government
bureaucracies and agencies) has created is strong because of their reliance on each other to
achieve their own agendas. Often, the consequence of this relationship is legislation that overspends
and results in the waste of taxpayer dollars and the ignorance of needs of citizens.
Iron Triangle
1. What are the 3 corners of the Iron Triangle?
a.
b.
c.
2. The iron triangle represents situations where ___________________ groups have undue influence on
govt.
3. In the examples, which 3 do you think concerns Americans the most?
a.
b.
c.
4. In this scenario, Congress is accused of passing friendly legislation in exchange for _______________.
5. It states that Congress forges these alliances as a source of _______________________________.
6. Name 5 Special Interest Groups that you have heard of
a.
d.
b
e.
c
7. (Your Homework) Find one Iron Triangle influence that is NOT listed above as an example and
explain how the lobby is changing or affecting policy.
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