Elections & terms
public financing
Government money for campaigns, usually matching small donations, in exchange for accepting spending limits. The federal presidential system is now effectively unused.
In full
The federal system, funded by the tax return checkoff, matches small primary contributions and offers a general election grant, both conditioned on spending caps that fundraising long ago outgrew. Major candidates have declined it since 2008. Many states and cities run their own programs, several using multiple matches on small donations to amplify local donors.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.