Which term refers to a network of people including agencies, committees, interest groups, think tanks, and mass media who regularly discuss and advocate public policies?

• A. Iron triangle
• B. Issue network
• C. Government by proxy
• D. Authorization legislation

Answer: (B)

In this scenario, the idea being tested is how a broad, fluid set of actors comes together around public policy. The term that fits is an issue network: a loose, issue-focused web that includes agencies, congressional committees, interest groups, think tanks, and mass media, all regularly discussing and advocating for policy outcomes. This network is flexible and open to many participants, reflecting how real-world policy debates involve a wide range of voices and interests.

This differs from the iron triangle, which describes a tight, stable three-way alliance among a specific committee, a government agency, and a favored interest group that tends to endure over time. Authorization legislation is simply the legal authorization for a program, not a network of actors. Government by proxy refers to the government using private or nonprofit entities to administer programs, rather than a network of ongoing policy discussion and advocacy.