influence peddling
Trading political connections
Influence peddling is using political connections or official position to secure favors or benefits for others in exchange for money or gifts.
The term implies corruption—trading on access rather than merit: The lobbyist was convicted of influence peddling after paying a senator's chief of staff for favorable treatment.
The peddler sells influence the way a street vendor sells wares.
- state captureCorrupt takeover of governance
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- palm greasingIllicit payment for favors
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
brown envelope · cronyism · dark money · corruption · revolving door · smoke-filled room · quid pro quo · lobbyist · patronage · conflict of interest · hush money · nepotism · pay-to-play · pork-barrelling · favoritism · extortion · sleaze · power broker
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- influencepersuasion, sway, clout, leverage, impact
- Corporate Powerlobbying, lobbyist, lobbyists, monopoly, oligarchy
- court intrigueintrigue, plots, schemes, plotting, conspiracy
- criminal schemesconspiracy, collusion, racketeering, kickback scheme, assassination plot
- ethics violationsbribery, bribes, kickbacks, kickback, nepotism
influence peddlinggrassroots activism
Citizen-led political engagement
civic engagement · democratic participation · constituent services
influence peddlingincorruptibility
Immunity to moral compromise
public service · pro bono work · civic duty · anti-corruption efforts · transparency
influence peddlinggood governance
Accountable, transparent institutional management
influence, influential, influencer, influenced, influencing, influences, peddling, uninfluenced, influentially