This quiz focuses specifically on government and political corruption. To proceed, you must answer “Yes” to the first question. If that’s not possible, the quiz likely doesn’t apply to the individual or situation you have in mind.
Is the person a government leader or official (like someone elected, appointed, or a police officer), or someone who works with the government (like a lobbyist or contractor)?
Were any of the below action(s) involved?
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Bribery – Taking or giving something valuable (like money or gifts) in return for doing something official.
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Extortion – Forcing someone to give you something valuable in exchange for doing (or not doing) something official.
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Kickback – Getting illegal or dishonest money as a reward for helping with a deal or decision.
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Nepotism – Giving jobs or power to family members, even if they’re not the best choice.
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Cronyism/Patronage – Giving jobs, contracts, or power to friends instead of choosing fairly.
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Influence peddling – Selling favors or special treatment from a government office.
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Graft – Taking money from government deals or contracts for personal gain.
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Embezzlement – Stealing money or property that was supposed to be handled responsibly.
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Fraud – Lying or changing information to get money or benefits.
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Money laundering – Hiding where illegal money came from to make it seem legal.
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Grift – Using a position of power to make extra money in unfair or sneaky ways.
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Obstruction of justice – Getting in the way of an investigation to protect yourself or someone else.
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Abuse of power – Using power in a wrong or illegal way.
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Electoral fraud – Cheating in an election, like by changing votes, scaring voters, or miscounting.
Was there a “quid pro quo” deal? In other words, did someone give or promise something in return for a favor—like saying, “I’ll give you this if you do that”—where a government official made a private deal that hurt the public or broke the public’s trust?
Did the person use their power or influence to carry out the actions?
How did the person’s actions harm the people they were supposed to represent? (Check all that apply)
Did the person have a conflict of interest, or did it seem like they might? (For example, a politician owning part of a company while making decisions about it, or a judge making a ruling about a friend or family member.)
Were the actions above done to gain money or to stay in power?
If something of value was involved, check all that apply.
Did the person intentionally misuse their power? (This can be hard to prove unless they admit it or there is clear evidence of what they were thinking.)
How did you learn about the possible corrupt actions mentioned above?
