Iron Triangle

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AP Government and Politics › Iron Triangle

Questions 1 - 10
1

Iron Triangles can be considered an example of __________.

Issue Networks

Soft Power

Federalism

PACs

None of these answers are correct

Explanation

Issue Networks are collections of people and groups that influence the government for a single issue, often compensating Congress and government agencies with donations or electoral support. Soft Power refers to the use of economic and other non-violent means of influence. Federalism refers to a system that is divided by a federal (national) government and regional (for instance, state) governments, like the US government. PAC is an acronym of Political Action Committee (special interest groups).

2

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

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

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 has the most efficient economy in the world

None of these answers are correct

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.

3

The "golden parachute" refers to what?

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

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

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

None of these answers is accurate.

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.

4

What is a possible benefit of the Iron Triangle?

Increased cooperation can lead to more efficient policy change

Increasing the flow of political contributions makes for faster elections

Decreasing the influence of interest groups on Congress

All of the answers are correct.

None of the answers are correct.

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.

5

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

All of these answers are correct

It can cause unnecessary wars

It can lead to a misallocation of government resources

It encourages corruption

It can hurt military self-sustainability

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.

6

What about the Iron Triangle could be considered problematic?

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

It means corporations will be able to make higher profits

It increases communication between the legislative and executive branches

It doesn't include the judiciary branch

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

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.

7

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

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

Write letters to Congressmen requesting they stay away from interest groups

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

Organize protests against specific corporations

None of these answers is correct.

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.

8

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

The Iron Triangle

The Congressional Compromise

The Military Industrial Complex

The 3-Branch Dilemma

None of the other answers are correct

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.

9

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

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

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

Monsanto donating money to conservative congressmen

Congress passing a new budget that expands funding for several Departments

None of the answers are correct

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.

10

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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