1. Bell Work Get out your notes Answer the following:
What are the three parts that comprise an Iron Triangle?
Congress
Client Group
Federal Department or Agency

2. How Iron Triangles Work
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

3. Why Iron Triangles?
The relationships within an Iron Triangle are beneficial to all parties involved
What do you want if you are…
Congress?
Client Group?
Bureaucratic Agency?
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

4. Why Iron Triangles?
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

5. Why Iron Triangles? The Iron Triangles are formed around an issue
Any issue can form one
It is one of the strongest ways in which government action takes place
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

6. How it works Iron Triangles form naturally
The majority of the time, it is Client Groups that start the process
When a client group wants action, they lobby both Congress as well as the Bureaucracy to get something done
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

7. How it works When a Client Group shows enough support Congress acts
Congress works with the Bureaucratic Agency
The Bureaucratic Agency then carries out laws that benefit the Client Group
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

8. How it works
While the majority of the time it is the Client Group that initiates action, action can start with any of the players in an Iron Triangle
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

9. Example Issue: Assault Rifles
Client Group: Citizens backed by several anti-gun lobbyist groups call for control of assault rifles
Congress: Has the ability to create legislation and also give the Department of Justice resources to carry out the bill
Bureaucracy: Department of Justice has the option to support a bill by increasing prosecution of offenders
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

10. Example Legislation: A bill is proposed to ban assault rifles
Client Group: The majority of citizens are in favor of a ban on assault rifles and think that they need to be off the streets, gives Congress support and lobby to increase funding to the DOJ
Bureaucracy: Department of Justice supports the ban and promises to prosecute individuals and companies that break the law
Congress: Votes yes and passes 1994 Assault Weapons Ban
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

11. Example Issue: Corn production is on the decline
Client Group: Farmers are worried about economic outlook and effects of foreign crops. Ask the Department of Agriculture to secure their jobs.
Bureaucracy: Department of Agriculture drafts a bill that will give farmers more security and increase resources for their department
Congress: House Committee on Agriculture works with Department of Agriculture and farmers to find a solution
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

12. Example
Legislation: A farming bill is proposed which gives farmers money to be able to sell corn at a low cost
Client Group: Farmers support the bill to ensure security of their farms and investments
Bureaucracy: Department of Agriculture supports the bill, which will create jobs within the department
Congress: Passes the 2002 Farm Bill
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

13. Making your own You will create an Iron Triangle around an issue
What is our issue?
Go into as much depth as possible when thinking about the interactions between the different sides of the Triangle
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.

14. What did we come up with? How do the sides interact?
Client Groups
Congress
Bureaucracy
What questions do we still have?
The students will display knowledge of the form and functions of Iron Triangles by creating a working example.