Archive profile summary
American Legislative Exchange Council, founded in 1973, is a membership organization of state legislators and private-sector stakeholders that develops and circulates model policy focused on limited government, free markets and federalism.
Why this entry is in the archive
Represents the state-level policy replication layer.
What it does
ALEC convenes state legislators and stakeholders around policy task forces and maintains a model policy library.
Its structural significance is that one policy idea can be drafted, discussed and adapted across many state legislatures rather than developed separately in every state.
Why it matters
ALEC is a clear example of institutional infrastructure designed for policy replication at the state level.
Evidence limits
A model bill and a later state law may resemble one another without proving ALEC authored the final legislation unless text, sponsorship or records establish the connection.
Membership does not establish that a legislator or company supports every ALEC model policy.
Timeline
- Institution-building accelerates
Heritage is founded; ALEC also dates its founding to 1973, reflecting the growth of permanent policy infrastructure.
The Heritage Foundation · Paul Weyrich · Edwin Feulner · Joseph Coors
Source records
Relationship records
No relationship records are listed for this archive profile.