SUBJECTS

U.S. Government, Civics

 GRADE LEVEL

9-12

To learn how "iron triangles," or issue networks form.

 LESSON PLAN

First, go to http://www.auburn.edu/~johnspm/gloss/pork-barrel_legislation.html to get the definition for iron triangles. Rewrite this definition into your own words.

Then, go to a website (http://www.opensecrets.org/cmteprofiles/index.asp) to find out about committees in general and about which committees your congressmen belong to. Once there, look at two committees from the House and two from the Senate. Go to the overview of the committee and write down the following:

1. The jurisdiction of the committee

2. Who are the chair and ranking minority person and what party they belong to

3. The proportion of Democrats to Republicans on the committee

4. Look at the members of that committee: are there any particular groups of states being represented on that committee

5. Which special interests are affected by that committee

6. Which special interests have contributed financially to the elections of members of that committee

7. Which agencies (bureaucracy) are regulated by these committees

8. Construct an iron triangle based on this information

9. Determine if there are interest groups that have conflicting goals affected by this committee

10. Determine if an issue network is the better model

For extra credit, find out which committees your senators and congressmen belong to. Why do you think that they are on those committees? Are they more interested in constituent service or leadership opportunities? Which committees do your other representatives belong to? Why? How do these committees affect your district and other districts in Wisconsin? Is your congressmen looking more toward advancing in public office or keeping his House seat secure? Support your reasoning.

 RESOURCES

 Computers with Internet access

 Worksheet

 CREDIT

Jim Jeffries