What distinguishes soft money from hard money?

The distinction between soft money and hard money lies primarily in the regulations governing their use and donation limits. Soft money refers to funds that can be raised without the stringent limitations imposed on hard money, which is specifically regulated and capped by federal and state law. This allows for soft money to be used for broader purposes, such as party-building activities, rather than directly supporting individual candidates.

In contrast, hard money is subject to strict limits on how much individuals and organizations can contribute to political candidates, and it must be reported to the appropriate authorities, thus ensuring transparency and accountability in political financing. Soft money often goes unregulated until it is directly linked to a candidate's campaign, enabling greater freedom in its usage, particularly before the campaign season heats up.

Given this context, option C accurately encapsulates the nature of soft money, indicating that it operates outside the restrictive framework that governs hard money. Other options misstate the characteristics of soft money, either by implying limitations that do not exist or by conflating its purpose with that of hard money.