2.11 Bribery of a Public Official / 18 U.S.C. Sec. 201(b)(1) is a federal offense that prohibits a person from offering, giving, receiving, or agreeing to receive anything of value in exchange for a public official’s influence on any official act, decision, or vote. It is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. There are two types of 2.11 Bribery of a Public Official / 18 U.S.C. Sec. 201(b)(1): active bribery and passive bribery. Active bribery involves offering or giving something of value in exchange for a public official’s influence on any official act, decision, or vote. Passive bribery involves receiving, or agreeing to receive, something of value in exchange for a public official’s influence on any official act, decision, or vote.