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 Wisconsin, bribery is addressed under state statutes such as Wis. Stat. § 946.10, which defines bribery of public officials and employees. The law prohibits anyone from offering, giving, or agreeing to give anything of value to a public officer, public employee, or candidate for public office with the intent to influence the recipient's actions concerning his or her public responsibilities. Similarly, it is illegal for such officials or candidates to solicit or accept such benefits under the same conditions. The statute requires a clear quid pro quo, meaning there must be a direct exchange of the bribe for a specific action or inaction by the public official. Campaign contributions are regulated under different statutes and are not considered bribery as long as they comply with campaign finance laws, which set forth the legal framework for political donations and require transparency and reporting to prevent corruption. Violations of bribery laws in Wisconsin can result in severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment.