Taking part
bribery
Giving or taking something of value in exchange for an official act. One of the two offenses the Constitution names by name as grounds for impeachment.
In full
Federal bribery requires a corrupt agreement, a quid pro quo, linking a thing of value to a specific official act. The Supreme Court has read official act narrowly, excluding routine access such as setting up a meeting, which is why several high-profile convictions have been overturned. A gratuity, given after the fact without an agreement, is treated differently.
Also written as: quid pro quo
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.