AP Government
Chapter 9 – The Federal Bureaucracy
Iron Triangle Project
An iron triangle can be defined as the relationship between the bureaucracy, congress and lobbyists, special
interests and corporations that results in the mutual benefit of all three of them. It is a significant factor in
policy formation within the US government.
This is a graphical depiction of an iron triangle:
Each of you will select a policy area to research and identify an iron triangle at work within that policy area. You
will identify the specific actors on each of the three points of the triangle, and how they interact with each other
to influence the development of policy in the area you have chosen. You will then decide whether this triangle
is operating in the best interest of the American voter, or whether it is acting in the interest of the actors within
the triangle to the detriment of the American people. You must defend this position.
You must use at least three sources of information. Begin your research by finding the answers to the following
questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Who in Congress is responsible for this policy area (House and/or Senate Committee/Subcommittee)?
Who within the bureaucracy is responsible for implementing policy in this area?
What outside groups influence policy in this area – lobbyists, special interest groups or corporations?
What do opinion polls or other data show that the voters want in this policy area? Is this what Congress
is doing?
5. Is there evidence of campaign donations from lobbyists, special interest groups or corporations from
their side of the triangle to the Congressional side of the triangle?
6. Is there evidence of a revolving door between members of the bureaucracy and jobs in the private
sector within the triangle?
7. Does your research show evidence that the triangle is supporting efficient and positive policy
development, or is the triangle working for the benefit of the members of the triangle to the detriment
of the voters?
Draw your iron triangle to resemble the image above, identifying the specific actors at each corner. Write a
brief report answering the questions above and providing your analysis of the functioning of the triangle and
include it with your drawing (either below or on the back of the drawing.
20 points