soft money
Unregulated political contributions
Soft money refers to political donations that circumvent contribution limits by going to party organizations or advocacy groups rather than directly to candidates.
The term arose from U.S. campaign finance law, where "hard money" faces strict regulation while soft money flows through looser channels: The super PAC raised millions in soft money.
In other contexts, soft money means funding that isn't guaranteed long-term, such as grants that must be renewed annually.
Organized efforts toward goals
- PACsCampaign contribution poolers
- super PACsUnlimited-donation political groups
- donationsGifts to organizations
- bundlingGrouping items as one
war chests · election cycle · get-out-the-vote · voter registration · national conventions · attack ads · ground game · swing states
Campaign contribution poolers
- super PACsUnlimited-donation political groups
- nonprofitsOrganizations without commercial aims
- donor-advised fundsCharitable investment accounts for grants
- political action committeesOrganizations funding electoral campaigns
Groups seeking policy influence
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- accessRight to enter
- cloutInformal power or punch
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
favor · sway · power brokers · donors · contributors · megadonors · bundlers · corporate interests
Exploitable ambiguities in rules
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- FECCampaign finance overseer
contribution limits · enforcement · compliance · transparency · circumvention · workarounds · watchdog groups · audits
Reciprocal exchange of value
- pay-to-playAccess costs money
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- influence peddlingSelling political access
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
ethics violations · anonymous donors · conflicts of interest · bribery · accountability · corporate donations · slush funds · indictments
campaigns
Organized efforts toward goals
- PACsCampaign contribution poolers
- super PACsUnlimited-donation political groups
- donationsGifts to organizations
bundling · war chests · election cycle · get-out-the-vote · voter registration · national conventions · attack ads · ground game · swing states · battleground
PACs
Campaign contribution poolers
- super PACsUnlimited-donation political groups
- nonprofitsOrganizations without commercial aims
- donor-advised fundsCharitable investment accounts for grants
political action committees · trade associations · shell companies
special interests
Groups seeking policy influence
leverage · favor · sway · power brokers · donors · contributors · megadonors · bundlers · corporate interests · trade associations
loopholes
Exploitable ambiguities in rules
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
FEC · contribution limits · enforcement · compliance · transparency · circumvention · workarounds · watchdog groups · audits · filing deadlines
quid pro quo
Reciprocal exchange of value
- pay-to-playAccess costs money
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- influence peddlingSelling political access
scandal · ethics violations · anonymous donors · conflicts of interest · bribery · accountability · corporate donations · slush funds · indictments · corruption charges
- campaign financedonations, donation, contributions, contribution, donors
- political jargonfilibuster, gerrymandering, caucus, pork barrel, lame duck
- Political Resourcesdonations, donors, funding, volunteers, votes
- money slangbucks, dough, moolah, cheddar, cash
- campaign costscampaign spending, ad buys, direct mail, staff salaries, travel expenses
- grantsfunding, research grants, government grants, awards, allocations
soft moneyhard money
Metallic legal tender
hard currency · specie · sound money · federal funds · bullion
soft, money, soften, softly, softness, softer, moneyed, softest, moneymaking