how does alec make legislation easy course hero

What is Alec and why does it matter?

May 03, 2017 · View Homework Help - CARD12CONGRESS20 from POLS 101 at Antelope Valley College. CARD # 12 CONGRESS (20) Read Fed 48 (the internet): In a representative government, why is Madison more concerned

What is the role of Alec in model bills?

ALEC Bills Introduced. During the 2011-2012 legislative session, 132 bills based on ALEC models were introduced in the states. Democrats sponsored nearly 10% of those bills, while Republicans ...

What is the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec)?

Oct 13, 2017 · ALEC boasts that it has over 1,000 of these bills introduced by legislative members every year, with one in every five of them enacted into law. ALEC describes itself as a “unique,” “unparalleled” and “unmatched” organization. We agree. It is as if a state legislature had been reconstituted, yet corporations had pushed the people ...

How many ALEC model legislation has Alec approved?

Annual Report Ranks States on Quality of Education. For Immediate Release Contact: Ashley Pratte apratte@alec.org 571-482-5030 Arlington, VA (January 24, 2017)– An annual report released by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) ranks all…. January 24, 2017.

What is ALEC?

ALEC is not a lobby; it is not a front group. It is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, behind closed doors, corporations hand state legislators the changes to the law they desire that directly benefit their bottom line. Along with legislators, corporations have membership in ALEC.

Who funds ALEC?

More than 98% of ALEC's revenues come from sources other than legislative dues, such as corporations, corporate trade groups, and corporate foundations.

Is it nonpartisan as claimed?

ALEC describes itself as a non-partisan, non-profit organization. The facts show that it currently has one Democrat out of 104 legislators in leadership positions. ALEC members, speakers, alumni, and award winners are a “who’s who” of the extreme right. ALEC has given awards to: Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, George H.W.

What goes on behind closed doors?

The organization boasts 2,000 legislative members and 300 or more corporate members. The unelected corporate representatives (often registered lobbyists) sit as equals with elected representatives on nine task forces where they have a “voice and a vote” on model legislation.

How do corporations benefit?

Although ALEC claims to take an ideological stance (of supposedly "Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty"), many of the model bills benefit the corporations whose agents write them, shape them, and/or vote to approve them. These are just a few such measures:

How do legislators benefit?

Why would a legislator be interested in advancing cookie-cutter bills that are corporate give-aways for global firms located outside of their district? ALEC’s appeal rests largely on the fact that legislators receive an all-expenses-paid trip that provides many part-time legislators with vacations that they could not afford on their own, along with the opportunity to rub shoulders with wealthy captains of industry (major prospective out-of-state donors to their political campaigns).

Is it lobbying?

In most ordinary people's view, handing bills to legislators so they can introduce them is the very definition of lobbying. ALEC says "no lobbying takes place." The current chairman of ALEC’s corporate board is W.

Pushing "Stand Your Ground," "Shoot First," or "Kill at Will" Laws

The " Castle Doctrine Act " expands traditional self-defense rights (in one's castle or home) to create a roving right to stand and shoot if threatened in public places and it creates a legal presumption that a shooter acted lawfully, making it difficult to obtain a conviction for killing an unarmed person.

Limiting Judicial Discretion

ALEC's " Judicial Sentencing Disclosure Act " requires that courts maintain a record of a judge's sentencing that will be subjected to public scrutiny, and will likely incentivize judges to increase sentences.

Changing Juveniles' Status and Detention Programs

ALEC's " Juvenile Boot Camp Act " and " Shock Incarceration Act " creates military-style basic training alternatives to traditional methods of juvenile incarceration and rehabilitation.

Restricting Constitutional Rights

ALEC's " Hearsay in Public Hearings Act " would roll back constitutional protections in criminal justice, specifically common law rules aimed at deterring police

Privatizing Prisons

ALEC's " Private Correctional Facilities Act " would allow any unit of government to contract with the private sector to perform services currently performed by a corrections agency.

Securing Revenue for the Commercial Bail Bond Industry

ALEC's " Conditional Early Release Bond " creates a new revenue stream for the commercial bail bond industry by collecting fees on the front end, from people seeking release from jail before their hearing date, and on the back end, requiring that

Supporting Reform That Benefits Corporate Backers

ALEC is a member of the conservative "Right on Crime" campaign, which promotes criminal justice reform by cutting the budget of the state corrections department and reducing judicial sentences.

What is ALEC?

A small cohort of conservatives, including activist Paul Weyrich, founded ALEC in 1973. According to the book State Capture, this came after Weyrich grew concerned about the stronghold Democrats had on state governments and the powerful national organizations and labor unions supporting them.

How does ALEC work?

To push its agenda, ALEC generates model legislation. These are pre-written bills for politicians to copy or adapt before introducing them in their state legislatures — and they’re a lot more common than you’d think.

What policies is ALEC responsible for?

ALEC prefers to keep a low profile, probably because many of the policies it pushes, such as stopping Medicaid expansion and ending paid sick leave, are deeply unpopular with most Americans.

Will conservatives continue to dominate at the state level?

With ALEC and similar organizations like Americans for Prosperity and State Policy Network, conservatives recognized that state governments are fertile ground for spreading their agenda. To combat this influence, Democrats need to continue state-level organizing no matter who is in the White House.