What constitutes bribery according to the definitions provided?

Bribery is defined as the act of giving or soliciting anything of value with the intention to influence the actions of an individual in a position of authority. This definition encompasses a wide range of activities where the core principle is to sway decision-making or behavior through financial or material incentives. The emphasis is on the exchange – that is, the value offered is specifically intended to alter the decision or action of the recipient.

In this context, the focus on influencing actions captures the essence of bribery, which is fundamentally about creating an unfair advantage. Offering support, providing services, or giving advice, while they may involve a transactional element, do not inherently involve the notion of attempting to influence actions in the same explicit manner as bribery is defined. Bribery explicitly involves the underlying expectation that something of worth is exchanged to gain improper benefits, which sets it apart from other forms of influence or assistance.