Iron Triangles, Issue Networks, and Revolving Doors

Directions: There is discussion of putting graphic images on tobacco products warning of health impacts. How might the iron triangle, which is
a simplified version of an issue network, illustrate the actions taken by the tobacco lobby to prevent this from happening?
Congress Finance &
Agricultural
Committees

Court Decisions
District, Circuit, and
Supreme Courts

Revolving Door
Tobacco industry
insiders become
government
officials

Special Interest
Groups Tobacco
Manufacturers,
Lobbyists, and Farmers

Bureaucracy Food
and Drug
Administration,
Center for Tobacco
Products; Dept of
Agriculture

Offer electoral support, suggest

appointees, provide $ for
Pass favorable legislation
campaigns, provide info on
affecting tobacco farmers and
industry, testify in committees,
industry
write bills & speeches

Confirm critical judges

Validate constitutionality of
laws

Approval of higher budgets,

confirmation of crucial
favorable political appointees

Provide information on
regulatory actions, assist with
constituent complaints, testify
in oversight committees

Validate constitutionality of
actions taken by bureaucracy

Provide information on cases,

defend government actions

Support appointments and

Draft and enforce sympathetic
Rulings that support industrial
confirm judges, explain industry regulations on production and
practices
insights with amicus curiae info
prices of tobacco

Information on industry; support

for budgetary requests