Final answer:
The interaction between interest groups, government officials, and members of Congress known as the iron triangle describes a closed network of mutual benefit where each element supports the others. Through lobbying, interest groups influence legislation by working with congressional committees and agencies. Although alternative models like issue networks exist, the iron triangle is a classic concept in political science.
Step-by-step explanation:
The interaction of mutual interests involving interest groups, government officials, and members of Congress is known as the iron triangle. This term describes the symbiotic relationship among three elements: interest groups, a member or chair of a congressional committee, and an agency within the bureaucracy. Each corner of the triangle benefits from the others, creating a closed network that is challenging for outsiders to penetrate. Interest groups engage in lobbying to influence legislation and public policy by hiring lobbyists who communicate with governmental decision-makers.
An example of this interaction could be an agricultural interest group working with the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and a government agency responsible for agriculture policy to push for using corn in biodiesel. Through lobbying and connections with appropriate committees and agencies, they work towards legislation and implementation that favors their objectives.
While the iron triangle suggests a closed network among these three actors, alternative views like the issue network propose a more open arrangement with various interests and actors collaborating on a policy. Regardless, the iron triangle still serves as an essential concept in understanding the network of mutual benefit among interest group politics.