Think tanks have grown in number and flourished as research and educational organizations as US society has become more complex. The educational components of the think tank address two main audiences: the general public and the public policymaking community, which includes federal government appointees and agencies, associations, lobbyists and Congress. The research looks at, among other areas, government regulation, healthcare and welfare reform, education, taxes, foreign policy, mass media, race and legal issues. Think tanks have weak to very strong political affiliations. One ideologically well-defined think tank is the Heritage Foundation, which assisted the Reagan administration in clearing people for political appointments. The primary think tank “products” are reports, books and magazines. Think tanks also hold conferences for public policy-makers and the press, often televised by the satellite cable company C-Span.

Think tanks may wish to limit their ideological affiliations to enhance the credibility of their research. Founded in 1916, the Brookings Institution maintains its political independence through its large endowment. Some think tanks’ research agendas are more strongly tied to the ideological objectives of their donors, including the government, corporations and philanthropic foundations. In its descriptive materials the American Enterprise Institute defines its ideological position as one that will work to preserve and strengthen “the foundations of freedom—limited government, private enterprise, vital cultural and political institutions, and a strong foreign policy and national defense.” One would not expect to find AEI research that contradicted this statement of purpose.

Whereas AEI addresses many areas of public policy, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace studies only foreign policy. The Center for Strategic and International Studies also focuses on international affairs. CSIS’ research is non-partisan, but the overall goal of the organization is to improve the strategic planning and implementation of business, media and government operations in the international arena.

Some think tanks, like the libertarian Cato Institute, focus their efforts on reaching the general public with their ideas so that a grassroots change in American polity will take place. Unlike most think tanks, the Cato Institute accepts no government funding. In the 1950s and 1960s, the federal government set up dummy think tanks and funded established think tanks to conduct covert operations. The Rand Corporation was preeminently a Cold War think tank dedicated to studying national security issues.

Although it has since diversified, Rand still receives most of its funding from government contracts.

Think-tank scholars, most of whom hold advanced degrees, come from many professions but have all achieved recognition in their areas of expertise before being hired. Think tanks also hire scholars who will help entice donors to fund programs.

During a Democratic presidential administration, more conservative scholars may find homes at Heritage, AEI or the Hoover Institution. When political fortunes change, these scholars frequently receive political appointments in the new administration. News organizations turn to think-tank scholars with established areas of expertise. When scholars appear repeatedly on news shows, they may be nicknamed “talking heads,” but the media exposure can enhance scholars’ standing in the policy community.