Lecture 9-2

The Iron Triangle

• Interlocking relationship between

– Congressional Committees

– Interest Groups

– Administrative Agencies

• The Revolving Door

Influencing politics

• The media

• Direct mail

• Opinion leaders

Involvement in the Electoral Process: PACs

• Political action committees are organizations, formally independent of candidates themselves, which are devoted to channeling money from members of interest groups to political candidates sympathetic to the groups’ policy preferences

• PACs blossomed as a result of the Federal Election Act of 1974

Involvement in the Legislative Process: Lobbying

• Lobbying is an attempt to influence the shape of legislation emanating from Congress and other legislative and rules-making bodies

• Lobbying is big business in Washington, employing more than 80,00 people

Involvement in the Administrative and Regulatory Process

• Lobbyists keep watch on the rules and regulation written by the many agencies of the executive branch.

• The threesome of interest groups, legislators, and administrators is called the iron triangle

Involvement of Lobbies in the Judicial Process

• Influence the selection of state and federal judges

• Participate as parties in cases

• Support litigation by others

• File amicus curiae briefs

• Conduct mail campaigns and protest demonstrations