Bribery \Brib"er*y\, n.; pl. Briberies. [OE. brybery
   rascality, OF. briberie. See Bribe, n.]
   1. Robbery; extortion. [Obs.]
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   2. The act or practice of giving or taking bribes; the act of
      influencing the official or political action of another by
      corrupt inducements.
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   Bribery oath, an oath taken by a person that he has not
      been bribed as to voting. [Eng.]
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	bribery
    n 1: the practice of offering something (usually money) in order
         to gain an illicit advantage [syn: bribery, graft]

	

	BRIBERY, crim. law. The receiving or offering any undue reward by or to any 
person whomsoever, whose ordinary profession or business relates to the 
administration of public justice, in order to influence his behaviour in 
office, and to incline him to act contrary to his duty and the known rules 
of honesty and integrity. 3 Inst. 149; 1 Hawk. P. C. 67, s. 2 4 Bl. Com. 
139; 1 Russ. Cr. 156. 
     2. The term bribery extends now further, and includes the offence of 
giving a bribe to many other officers. The offence of the giver and of the 
receiver of the bribe has the same name. For the sake of distinction, that 
of the former, viz : the briber, might be properly denominated active. 
bribery; while that of the latter, viz : the person bribed, might be called 
passive bribery.   
     3. Bribery at elections for members of parliament, has always been a 
crime at common law, and punishable by indictment or information. It still 
remains so in England notwithstanding the stat. 24 Geo. H. c. 14 3 Burr. 
1340, 1589. To constitute the offence, it is not necessary that the person 
bribed should, in fact, vote as solicited to do 3 Burr. 1236; or even that 
he should have a right to vote at all both are entirely immaterial. 3 Bur. 
1590-1. 
     4. An attempt to bribe, though unsuccessful, has been holden to be 
criminal, and the offender may be indicted. 2 Dall. 384; 4 Burr. 2500 3 
Inst. 147; 2 Campb. R. 229; 2 Wash. 88; 1 Virg. Cas. 138; 2 Virg. Cas. 460.