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Are think tanks legally required to be impartial? Are they generally expected to be impartial?

I was under the impression that funding a "Think Tank" was a way to funnel money into research, paper-writing, policy promulgation, etc. that favored your position. Are they something else?

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I'd imagine that funding and investments are a way to pressure research to favor your stance as a company. While think tanks can operate under their own rules, as an investor you'd probably not want to spend more money if the result isn't helping you in some way.

Phrased a different way I think technically it's not a requirement to follow your investors' goals, but it's pretty much a necessity so your hands are tied.

There is nothing special about a think tank. They're just some people who write position papers for money. It's 1st amendment protected activity.

That's right, the best I have to say about it is, it's not illegal.

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