Issue+Networks+and+Public+Policy


 * Issue Networks and Public Policy**


 * Questions for Spring 2010**

There is only one question, but I want 500 words on this.

This question is designed to determine how the powers of the different branches of government (principally the legislative and executive branches) interact, with the assistance of interest groups, to form public policy. The most useful might be the Iron Triangle, which outlines the relationship between congressional committees, executive agencies, and interest groups. Below you will see links to websites that outline the specific nature of the relationship between these institutions, and here you see a rough diagram of that relationship:



This network of interests tends to evolve around most, if not all, policy areas. A sector of the economy, especially one which already gets benefits from government (farm subsidies for example) develops interest groups that work to influence members of Congress, especially the members of the congressional committees that have jurisdiction over the policy, and the executive agencies that implement those policies. Some argue that this is how government really works. Separated powers do not check and balance each other, rather institutions with similar interests work together to benefit the recipients of those policies. Read the Wikipedia entry on the military industrial complex to get an idea about hos these work.

Your assignment is to select a policy area and outline the relationships that exist between the participants in that area. I'd suggest you begin by selecting a policy and determining which institutions are involved in that area, then consider the relationships between those institutions. What is each institution getting out of the relationship that persuades them to work with the others?

Here some possible interests to explore (often you'll hear these referred to as the lobby): - Farm - Financial - Energy - Health - Labor - Environmental etc...

Sources: - [|Wikipedia - Issue Networks]. - [|Wikipedia - Iron Triangle] - [|Wikipedia - Regulatory Captue] - [|Wikipedia - Military Industrial Complex] - [|Opensecrets.org] - [|A brief list of interest groups]

Turn this in on the due date assigned in yoru syllabus.