Sub Government Iron Triangles

Sub governments, or what is also often referred to as “iron triangles” are a triad of sectors that includes bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees, and public interest groups that form together to expand a public policy in a specific area. Their main purpose is to establish and protect their self-interest in specific areas of policy making. Each of these sectors holds relevance in interest of the policy at large. The relationship between these three sectors creates a network of institutions that carry great influence on the policy they advocate for. A congressional committee writes the policies in a certain area, the bureaucratic agency implements the laws, and an interest groups dives into both categories by forming a concentration on
the development and implementation of the policy. Each of these categories intermingles with the other and depends on each other in order to successfully stabilize their goals.
For example, bureaucratic agencies depend on congressional committees for support in funding and resources, while they look to interest groups for support in its legislative course. The bureaucratic agency plays as a political body based on a constituency, rather than the patrons who would be the receiving end of such based policies. The sub government becomes “self sufficient” and often times looks beyond the needs of the greater good in order to comprise and feed the results they desire to achieve for their own interest. There have been various periods throughout American history where the relevance of interest groups have been more prevalent, however, their popularity sprung around the 1960’s when for example more ecological and consumer groups flourished. There are several factors that determine why sub governments have become more prevalent in American government which include economic developments such as unions, government policy, ethical organizations, and of course the natural process of government activity equaling more interest group activity. In the early 1900’s immigration and escalating diversity in the United States implemented a period of strategizing labor and business due to the changes. By today’s
standards, the greater number of interest in policymaking, greater group activity, as well as a decline in political party affiliation has made sub governments a significant power in the development of overall government. Interest groups that fuel the implementation of sub governments depend heavily on resources and funding, and are often times more successful when said groups hold members that are wealthier and more willing to donate assets to the group. In today’s society, with wealthier citizens playing an active role in sub government and interest groups there is a greater advantage to the activity and success of the group as a whole. It is a misconception that larger interest groups carry more success. Smaller groups tend to hold more active members that are more financially interested in the success of the group and therefore will put in more time, effort and money in its function. In his article “The Iron Triangle of Healthcare,” Aaron Carroll uses the example of health care, as a means to develop an understanding of how one sector will lack stability if the other is downplayed. “I can make the health care system cheaper (improve cost), but that can happen only if I reduce access in some way or reduce quality. I can improve quality, but that will either result in increased costs or reduced access” and so on (Carroll). The success of sub government comes in the interworking of all three areas of the triangle as a rigid force all-together. The United States Constitutions First Amendment clearly states the freedom to “assemble, and petition the Government for a redress of grievance.” Sub governments in theory are constitutionally protected because each sector Congress, interest groups, and agencies use a governmental means in order to achieve their overall agendas and thus far have often times been successful in doing so. Robert Charles discusses the hazy line of what sub government’s means for legitimacy in his article “The New Iron Triangle.” He discusses the often times iffy (seemingly unconstitutional) behavior of such groups and individuals that are allowed to “slide” due to their stamina. Although the interworking of the iron triangle has been criticized for using taxpayer dollars to push agendas only fueled by a small band of people’s interests, they continue to develop. The notion that this type of government disregards the greater interest of the people somewhat strays against the overall concept of “democracy,” however the exercising of such an establishment further exemplifies democracy as well in its own standard.