Final answer:
The term that accurately describes the relationship between interest groups, the government bureaucracy, and Congress is known as an iron triangle, which illustrates a stable, symbiotic relationship among these parties as they work to influence policy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes the complex relationship between interest groups, the government bureaucracy, and Congress is an iron triangle. This is a concept used to explain the policy-making process in which there is a stable, symbiotic interaction among a congressional committee, a bureaucratic agency, and a special interest group. Answer c from the provided options, "a symbiotic relationship among Congressional committees, executive agencies, and interest groups" aligns with the iron triangle's definition.
Rather than a fluid and competitive environment, the iron triangle represents a closed, mutually beneficial relationship that can be difficult for outsiders to penetrate. This often results in policies that favor the interests part of the iron triangle. This idea, however, has been suggested as outdated by scholars such as Hugh Heclo, who proposed a more inclusive concept known as an issue network, which reflects a broader range of actors and interests influencing policy.