Earmark
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Earmark is "any identifying or distinguishing mark or characteristic". As a legislative provision, it is the power of Congress to direct funds to be spent on specific named projects (i. e. projects or a particular person or a cause, in the home districts of sponsoring members) and passed without examination. Earmark allows Federal agencies to bypass regulatory determinations. Some earmarks become controversial for the perceived frivolous nature of the project.
Some times it is related to dirty politics.