§ 210
Offer to procure appointive public office
Up to 1 year
Government & Corruption
None sentenced (FY2025)
Ch. 11 · Bribery, Graft, and Conflicts of Interest
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever pays or offers or promises any money or , to any person, firm, or corporation in consideration of the use or promise to use any influence to procure any appointive office or place under the United States for any person, shall be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 694 (PDF, 39 MB), §210, formerly §214; renumbered §210, Pub. L. 87–849, §1(b), Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1125 (PDF, 1.6 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to pay, offer, or promise money or anything of value to someone in exchange for using their influence to get a person appointed to a federal office or job.