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Difficulty: EasyIron Triangles and Issue Networks

In the U.S. policymaking process, a stable and mutually beneficial relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group is known as which of the following?

  1. A
    An issue network
  2. An iron triangleAnswer
  3. C
    A political party coalition
  4. D
    A checks and balances system

Answer

An iron triangle
The correct answer is the option describing an iron triangle. This term represents the stable, three-way alliance of a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group working together to create and control policy within their specific domain.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the three actors mentioned in the prompt: a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.
These three actors constitute the three points of the policy-making relationship.
Recognizing the participating entities allows for matching them with the appropriate political concept.
2
Analyze the nature of the relationship described as 'stable and mutually beneficial' to distinguish between options.
The correct term for this closed, mutually beneficial three-part relationship is an iron triangle.
This steps rules out more open, fluid concepts such as issue networks.

Key Concept

The concept of an iron triangle describes the long-term, mutually beneficial relationship that forms between bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups to shape policy in a particular area.
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Topics

Iron Triangles and Issue Networks

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