§ 599
Promise of appointment by candidate
Up to 2 years
Elections & Voting
None sentenced (FY2025)
Ch. 29 · Elections and Political Activities
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, being a candidate, directly or indirectly promises or pledges the appointment, or the use of his influence or support for the appointment of any person to any public or private position or employment, for the purpose of procuring support in his candidacy shall be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 721 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), (L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime for a candidate to promise someone a public or private job, or to promise to help them get one, in order to win support for the candidate's campaign.