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campaign

politics
Also known as: political campaign

Quick Summary

A political campaign is a series of organized activities undertaken to achieve a specific goal, primarily influencing public opinion to support a candidate, ticket, or measure. The term "campaign" originated from the French word for "countryside" and was initially a military term referring to an army's summer expedition. By the mid-18th century in England, it began to be applied to political endeavors.12

Campaign finance involves raising and spending money to influence political votes. Regulations aim to prevent corruption and ensure the integrity of the democratic process, though debates exist regarding freedom of expression versus the need for limits. Election laws also regulate campaign content, including candidate speech, with few restrictions due to First Amendment protections, though defamation suits can arise from knowingly false statements.34

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