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What Is ALEC? : 1A The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, has been around since 1973. Even if you're not sure what it does, chances are you've been impacted by laws it's helped pass at the state level.

We looked into ALEC's impact on our democracy as part of our week of audience-selected shows.

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1A

What Is ALEC?

What Is ALEC?

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The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, has been around since 1973.

Even if you're not sure what it does, chances are you've been impacted by laws it's helped pass at the state level.

Nearly a quarter of all state legislators are members of ALEC. And over the years, the group has helped usher in laws including mandatory minimum sentences, California's three-strikes law and Stand Your Ground.

ALEC prides itself on being a meeting place where ideas can be discussed and exchanged for the betterment of the American people. Meanwhile, critics call it a secretive lobby for corporate interests to bypass the will of the people.

We looked into ALEC's impact on our democracy as part of our week of audience-selected shows.