Bribery of a Public Official — "Official Act" Defined (revised 2017) is a form of criminal offense that involves the offering, promising, giving, or accepting of something of value (such as money, property, or a service) in exchange for influence over a public official's decision-making. It is illegal in the United States and can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment. There are two types of bribery of a public official — "official act" and "campaign contribution". An "official act" is defined as an action taken or to be taken by a public official in an official capacity, including but not limited to, signing, approving, or vetoing any bill, resolution, or other measure, making or influencing any appointment, or any other decision or action on any matter which may be pending or proposed before a public office. A "campaign contribution" is defined as anything of value given or promised to a candidate or political party for the purpose of influencing an election.