SOFT MONEY Meaning and
Definition
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Soft money refers to unregulated and unrestricted funds that are contributed to political parties or campaigns, typically for purposes other than supporting a specific candidate. It is money that is not subject to the same legal limitations and disclosure requirements as traditional or "hard" money. Soft money is often used for generalized party-building activities or issue advocacy rather than directly promoting a particular candidate.
Soft money can come from various sources, such as corporations, labor unions, wealthy individuals, or interest groups. Typically, these contributions are made to political parties rather than directly to candidates' campaigns. Unlike hard money, which has strict contribution limits and must be disclosed, soft money operates in a legal gray area, allowing larger amounts of money to be contributed without strict limits or clear disclosure requirements.
Historically, soft money has been seen as a way for political parties to raise significant funds outside the confines of campaign finance laws. These funds can be utilized for activities such as voter registration drives, issue advocacy campaigns, advertisements, and other forms of political communication. Soft money has drawn criticism because it enables the influence of wealthy individuals or special interest groups on political parties and activities, potentially distorting the democratic process.
Regulations surrounding soft money differ among countries, but its existence often sparks debate and calls for campaign finance reform to address perceived loopholes and promote greater transparency and accountability in political financing.
Common Misspellings for SOFT MONEY
- aoft money
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- doft money
- eoft money
- woft money
- sift money
- skft money
- slft money
- spft money
- s0ft money
- s9ft money
- sodt money
- soct money
- sovt money
- sogt money
- sott money
- sort money
- sofr money
- soff money
- softmoney
Etymology of SOFT MONEY
The term "soft money" has its origins in American politics and campaign finance. It refers to funds that are raised and spent by political parties and interest groups to support political campaigns, but are not subject to the same regulations and restrictions as "hard money", which is money donated directly to a candidate's campaign.
The etymology of the term comes from the contrast between "hard" and "soft" currencies. In finance, "hard money" refers to currency that is backed by a physical commodity, such as gold or silver, and has a fixed value. On the other hand, "soft money" refers to currency that is not backed by a physical commodity and can be easily manipulated or depreciated.
In the context of political campaign finance, "hard money" represents the donations given directly to a candidate or campaign, which are subject to strict limits and regulations.
Idioms with the word SOFT MONEY
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soft money
Soft money refers to funds donated to political parties or candidates that are not regulated by federal campaign finance laws. This type of money is not subject to contribution limits or disclosure requirements, making it easier for donors to influence political campaigns without scrutiny.
Similar spelling words for SOFT MONEY
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