Bribery is the offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving of something of value in order to influence the actions of a person who holds a public or legal duty (often someone in public office or government). To prove the crime of bribery, the prosecution must demonstrate that there was a quid pro quo exchange in which the recipient (public official) changed or altered his behavior in exchange for the gift (bribe). The quid pro quo relationship between the gift given and the action taken must be clear and direct. For this reason, campaign donations to political candidates generally do not constitute bribery.

In Iowa, bribery is addressed under Iowa Code Section 722.1, which defines bribery as offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting anything of value with the intent to influence the performance of a public duty. This applies to public officials, employees, or anyone holding a public office, trust, or employment. The law requires clear evidence of a quid pro quo arrangement, meaning there must be a direct exchange of the item of value for a specific action or influence on the part of the public official. The statute makes it a felony to engage in bribery, and those found guilty may face significant penalties, including imprisonment and fines. It is important to distinguish between lawful campaign contributions and bribery; campaign donations are legal as long as they comply with campaign finance laws and there is no explicit agreement that the donation is in exchange for a specific official action.