Also known as: quid pro quo contribution · quid-pro-quo contribution · quid-pro-quo contributions · quid pro quo
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A contribution given in direct exchange for a specific official action or personal benefit. The exchange creates the risk of corruption or its appearance even when no explicit bargain is proven.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Quinton Quinones, a recently convicted racketeer, hosts a large social gathering and donates funds to support the event. Judge Queenie Quick attends and mingles with Quinton's known associates. Even without evidence that the donation secured any particular ruling, the contribution linked to the gathering raises serious concerns about judicial integrity.
Quorum Partners contributes the maximum amount to multiple candidates and committees in a single cycle. The firm seeks to support aligned officeholders without directing any specific vote or decision. Aggregate limits on these contributions are struck down because they restrict political participation without advancing the interest in preventing direct exchanges for official acts.
No. The appearance of an exchange is enough to trigger ethical or constitutional concerns even without proof of an actual agreement or tangible payoff.
Aggregate caps restrict overall political participation without preventing direct exchanges between a donor and a specific officeholder for official action.