ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council Brief History)

 The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1973. ALEC's mission is to promote free-market, limited-government policies at the state level by bringing together state legislators and corporate representatives to draft model legislation.

The idea for ALEC was developed by a group of conservative activists who were concerned about the increasing influence of the federal government on state and local affairs. They believed that by developing model legislation at the state level, they could promote conservative policies and counteract what they saw as the liberal agenda of the federal government.

In its early years, ALEC focused primarily on economic and fiscal issues, promoting policies such as tax cuts, deregulation, and privatization. However, in the 1990s, the organization began to expand its focus to include social issues such as criminal justice, education, and healthcare.

ALEC's model legislation has had a significant impact on state policy over the years. Some of the organization's most well-known initiatives include the "Stand Your Ground" laws, which allow individuals to use deadly force in self-defense, and the Voter ID laws, which require voters to show photo identification at the polls.

Critics of ALEC argue that the organization is unduly influenced by corporate interests and that its model legislation often benefits corporations at the expense of ordinary citizens. In recent years, there have been several high-profile campaigns against ALEC by progressive activists, who have targeted the organization's corporate sponsors and called for greater transparency and accountability.

Despite these criticisms, ALEC remains a powerful force in state politics. The organization boasts a membership of over 2,000 state legislators and hundreds of corporate members, and its model legislation continues to shape policy in states across the country.