Purchase Solution

It it a Case of Bribery or Lobbying

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

The Big Business of the Olympics and Bribery
LEAD STORY-DATELINE: The Washington Post, January 15, 1999.

Salt Lake City and the state of Utah are considered synonymous with the Mormon Church and the morality that flows from religious pursuits. A recent bribery scandal relating to Salt Lake City's successful bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics casts a cloud over the city and state.

The Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) had assigned individual members to lobby members of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) to select Salt Lake City as the 2002 Winter Olympics' site. Since November 1998, there have been allegations that the members of the SLOC lobbied by making gifts to certain influential IOC members and their families. The allegations are that the SLOC members gave scholarships, free medical care, guns and other expensive gifts valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars to visiting IOC members. IOC rules limit members to gifts with a maximum value of $150. One influential IOC member is alleged to have received free medical treatment for hepatitis and financed land investment deals for one SLOC member.

The scandal has resulted in investigations by a several agencies, including the federal Department of Justice, the International Olympics Committee, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and an ethics panel for Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC). The Utah legislature had created a committee to oversee the Olympics because of the approximately $1.4 billion initial costs to be incurred by Utah and the State's obligation to pay any shortfall. That committee has entered the fray and demanded financial accounting from the SLOC. The state of Utah projected receipt of three billion dollars in revenues from hosting the games.

Additional Information:

According to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, lobbying is "to promote (as a project) or secure the passage of (as legislation) by influencing public officials" (lobbying, n.d.).

Whether bribery should be considered unethical or illegal has been debated extensively. Many scholars and business people take the position that bribery should not be treated as unethical.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 U.S.C. sec. 78) makes it illegal for U.S. companies to pay bribes even if they are in foreign countries. Assuming that this is a case in which the FCPA would apply, it helps to look at its definition of a bribe. The FCPA defines a payment as illegal when it is "meant to influence an official to award or maintain business activity" (Foreign Corrupt, n.d.). Payments that assist the payer to obtain ministerial actions are not prohibited.

Write a paper answering the following questions:

* What is the difference between lobbying and bribery?
* What argument could the SLOC members make that the payments made do not fit the definition of an illegal bribe (under the FCPA)?
* What do you think is the appropriate punishment for the violation of ethical and legal principles?
* Should the remedies be limited to expulsion of the members who violated those principles, or should the entire community be held responsible?

Please list references.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

This case involves the investigation of the International Olympic Committee, into the activities of the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee, in attempting to influence the Olympic Committee to use Salt Lake City, Utah, for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Discussion includes the application of principles determined by the Foreign Corruption Practices Act and whether the actions of the Salt Lake Organizing committee are considered simply lobbying or something more serious, such as bribery. Various aspects of the facts presented in the case are discussed.

Solution Preview

I have included the references page. You may need to complete the FCPA reference, as I cannot locate the exact source used in the above source.

The difference between bribery and lobbying is based on several factors. The first is
intent. Bribery is the purposeful provision of goods or services given to another party, which is
done so with the intent of receiving some form of benefit. Lobbying, on the other hand, is the
appeal to another party or parties to better a situation that affects a particular group or groups.
Typically an individual or group of individuals acts on behalf of the larger group or groups, to
help further their cause. However, it is the specific expectation of what type of action should
be taken that truly defines the difference.

Many people or groups make contributions to political causes during the ...

Solution provided by:
Beatrice Martino, MEd
Education
  • MEd, Jones International University
  • BSc, DeVry University
  • MPH, Walden University
Recent Feedback
  • "Thank you so much!"
  • "Great work"
  • "thanks for the information"
  • "Thanks for the information"
  • "Excellent Work, very well-written, clear and concise."
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Situational Leadership

This quiz will help you better understand Situational Leadership and its theories.

Basics of corporate finance

These questions will test you on your knowledge of finance.

Six Sigma for Process Improvement

A high level understanding of Six Sigma and what it is all about. This just gives you a glimpse of Six Sigma which entails more in-depth knowledge of processes and techniques.

Cost Concepts: Analyzing Costs in Managerial Accounting

This quiz gives students the opportunity to assess their knowledge of cost concepts used in managerial accounting such as opportunity costs, marginal costs, relevant costs and the benefits and relationships that derive from them.

Organizational Leadership Quiz

This quiz prepares a person to do well when it comes to studying organizational leadership in their studies.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Salt Lake City Olympics and Bribery

    Slide One: Lobbying versus Bribery Lobbying - o "the act of trying to directly shape or influence a government official's understanding and position on a public policy issue." (Post, Business and Society 7th ed.).

  • Corruption, Lobbying and Bribery

    The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 U.S.C. sec. 78) makes it illegal for US companies to pay bribes even if they are in foreign countries. Assuming that this is a case where the FCPA would apply, it helps to look at its definition of a bribe.

  • Difference in Lobbying and Bribery and its Legal Principles

    The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 U.S.C. sec. 78) makes it illegal for U.S. companies to pay bribes even if they are in foreign countries. Assuming that this is a case in which the FCPA would apply, it helps to look at its definition of a bribe.

  • Lobbying and Bribery

    Therefore, using ISCT: The Case of Bribery: The issue becomes: Is bribery part of moral free space or is it an illegitimate norm?

  • Bigtown's - Bribery vs. Lobbying

    Lobbying is defined as "the act of trying to directly shape or influence a government official's understanding and position on a public policy issue." (Post, Business and Society 7th ed.) What is the difference between lobbying and bribery? 2.

  • Bribery: Salt Lake City, 2002 Winter Games

    The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 U.S.C. sec. 78) makes it illegal for US companies to pay bribes even if they are in foreign countries. Assuming that this is a case in which the FCPA would apply, it helps to look at its definition of a bribe.

  • Olympics and Bribery

    Lobbying is defined as "the act of trying to directly shape or influence a government official's understanding and position on a public policy issue." (Post, Business and Society 7th ed.) What is the difference between lobbying and bribery? 3.

  • Salt Lake City Organizing Committee for Olympics in 2002

    However, the definition of a bribe is at the core of this, as it parallels lobbying, and may not be illegal - depending on the particulars of what was truthfully or actually given to influence the other party.

  • Lobbying, Bribery and Salt Lake City Olympics

    Lobbying is defined as "the act of trying to directly shape or influence a government official's understanding and position on a public policy issue." (Post, Business and Society 7th ed.) What is the difference between lobbying and bribery? 2.

View More Related Solutions