- Conservative think tanks are organizations that conduct research on wide-ranging subjects, are allied with conservative organizations, and advocate solutions based on conservative policy. Although there are many modern conservative think tanks, the most prominent are the Heritage Foundation, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the American Enterprise Institute.
- Think tanks are often non-profit organizations that research various aspects of public policy and advocate solutions. They can be non-partisan or partisan.
- According to the Fair and Accuracy in Reporting group, conservative or center-right think tanks accounted for 40 percent of all citations of think tanks in major newspapers, radio and TV programs. The three most-cited conservative think tanks are the Heritage Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The Heritage Foundation was founded in 1973 in Washington, D.C., with focus on tax policy and missile defense. Foreign Policy Magazine lists Heritage Foundation as the fifth most influential think tank in America.
The Center for the Strategic and International Studies was founded in 1964 in Washington D.C., with focus on defense policy and diplomacy. Foreign Policy Magazine lists American Enterprise Institute as the seventh most influential think tank in America.
The American Enterprise Institute was founded in 1943 in Washington, D.C., with focus in trade and defense policy. Foreign Policy Magazine lists American Enterprise Institute as the eighth most influential think tank in America. - Other than the Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, and Center for Strategic and International Studies, other conservative think tanks include the following:
Cato Institute
Hoover Institution
Manhattan Institute
Lexington Institute
Project for the New American Century
Center for Security Policy
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Center for Immigration Studies
Claremont Institute
Hudson Institute