Public Corruption and the Law

From traditional crimes of corruption such as bribery and embezzlement to corrupt forms of governance such as patronage and nepotism, corruption is a global phenomenon, but one that defies simple definition. Is the absence of campaign contribution limits an exercise in corruption, or free speech? Is the payment of a foreign public official by an American agent a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or permissible "grease money"? These questions and more are answered in Public Corruption and the Law: Cases and Materials. This casebook includes not only significant and illustrative appellate opinions, but also other writings on policy and contemporary debates about reform. While the primary focus is on U.S. law, significant attention is also given to public corruption in an international context.