American Government Political Power and Legislation Support

Question:-

write essay on Political Power and Legislation Supported by AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL

Answer:-

The organization had introduced 132 bills between 2011 and 2012 which were fully sponsored by the democrats (10%) and the republicans (90%). The rate of enactment might not seem high when only 12 of the 132 were enacted. However, the surprising factor which proves the organization’s political power is the comparison rate between ALEC and Congress of bills being passed, which is 9% versus 2%. The bills that are created by ALEC, therefore, passes most of the state legislatures (Jackman, 2013). This is an appropriate example of political lobbying at a large scale. Various lobbies have come together in ALEC which has increased the power of and the hazards caused by the organization. The legislation changes as per the demand and wishes of the state legislators goes through ALEC in the most mysterious and untraceable manner and the direct result is enjoyed by the bottom line of the legislators. The corporations associated with ALEC also has voting rights for these bills which makes it a stronger force in initiating the approval of the model bills (Scola, 2012).

One of the legislations still supported by the organization is the Castle Doctrine or “Stand Your Ground”. This bill, passed by the Congress, authorizes the use of deadly force against an intruder in a person’s own vehicle or residence. Under the protection of the act any person has the right to “stand their ground” in defense of being afraid of bodily harm. It gives less power to the law enforcement to investigate the cases of intrusion and the truth behind the attacks. This legislation, then model bill, was based on the Stand Your Ground Law of Utah in 1994. This act is simply based on the presumption of the actions based on reasonable fear. The use of force is defended under this act by the commission of forcible felony (Wallace, 2014). It states that the person against whom the force was used engaged in illegal and forced intrusion in a place of residence or personal vehicle or attempts to forcefully remove the occupants. In fact, it vests the authority to decide whether the intrusion was illegal or not upon the occupants and allows them complete discretion to act in any possible manner that exhibits force or resistance against the intruder. Although the act allows the provision for protection of the intruder if the intrusion had been legal but this provision hardly has any scope of application due to the full discretionary power lying in the hands of the residents and not the law enforcement. It gives the resident, i.e. the attacker immunity from criminal prosecution.