1. Iron Triangles or Issue Networks

2. Who Makes Public Policy?
Iron Triangles

3. Who Makes Public Policy?
Iron triangles
Alliance between . . .
Congressional committees,
Interest groups or representatives of regulated industries,
Federal bureaucratic agencies

4. Who Makes Public Policy?
Iron triangles
Example: Land use (forest) policy
House Natural Resource Committee
U.S. Forest Service (in the Department of Agriculture)
Timber industry interests (American Forest and Paper Association, etc.)

5. Who Makes Public Policy?
Iron triangles
Example: Military veterans policy
House and Senate Veterans Committees
Federal Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans interest groups (the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars)

6. Who Makes Public Policy?
Iron triangles
Example: Tobacco
House and Senate agricultural subcommittees
Tobacco division of the Department of Agriculture
Tobacco interest groups, including manufacturers and farmers

7. Who Makes Public Policy?
Issue networks
Some political scientists argue that iron triangle model is outdated or only applies to some policymaking.
Iron triangles are not indestructible (e.g. tobacco iron triangle)
Other groups can impact policy as well
For example: Sierra Club, a strong environmental group, impacts land use policy.