| The military-industrial complex, coined by President Dwight Eisenhower, is a unique relationship that, aside from the Department of Defense, involves three major sections of the United States: Congress, the private sector, and the American people. Each has a stake in local economic success, through votes, profits, or financial security, respectively. Yet ultimately, no group appears to have ultimate authority, as each relies upon the others for support of its goals in both public and private. In this study, the relationship between the three intersecting sections is analyzed to find the significance, if any, of indirect factors on defense procurement.;Impact of these factors is based on overall defense contract revenue in Congressional districts. Public pressure is indicated by unemployment and poverty data, while private sector influence is shown via official political action committee (PAC) campaign donations and the placement of manufacturing facilities. Data is drawn from eight states, with forty-five Congressional districts of the 109th Congress (2005-2007) analyzed. The top-five contractors in terms of annual revenue in 2005 and 2006 were studied. Descriptive data show disproportionate revenue between Congressional districts. In numerous cases those districts with greater defense contract revenue have Representatives serving on the House Armed Services Committee.;Final results show statistical significance in the geographic placement of manufacturing sites. In some models, committee memberships of Representatives, the economic characteristics of districts, and certain interactions of PAC donations to committees also show statistical significance regarding their impact on district revenue from defense contracts. These results suggest that greater scrutiny and oversight of campaign donations is needed, as well as a review of the geographic consolidation of defense production and procurement. |
