Antibribery Track Record: Republicans vs. Democrats

Yesterday, we examined the bribery schemes of two former congressmen—one a Democrat and the other a Republican—currently sitting in jail for their crimes (“In Politics and Bribery, Neither Party Has Clean Hands”). Today, we look at the successes and failures of Republican and Democratic presidencies as they worked to control the crime of corruption.

I do have to note one significant caveat: Everything that has occurred during a Republican president’s term is attributed to that party, and everything that occurred during a Democratic presidency is attributed to that party, even when the correlation between the activity and the administration is weak. Indeed, diplomatic efforts move so slowly that some of these victories may well be attributable to the previous administration.

Laws and Conventions

Domestic public corruption has always been criminalized by the laws of the United States, but it wasn’t until 1977 that the bribery of foreign officials was criminalized. In response to an inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission, hundreds of U.S. companies revealed illegal payments to foreign officials. Congress decided to do something about it, and under the Democratic administration of President Jimmy Carter enacted the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in 1977.

Game-changing first point: Democrats.

It was also during a Democratic administration—Bill Clinton’s—that the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption was signed in 1996 and ratified in 2000, within the framework of the Organization of American States. The stated purpose of the convention is to promote and strengthen each state’s ability to prevent, detect, punish, and eradicate corruption. It provides for cooperation between law-enforcement bodies in the signatory states, and allows for the freezing and seizure of assets where warranted.

First team effort: Democrats.

The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), on the other hand, was signed during the administration of Republican President George W. Bush in 2003 and ratified in 2006. The UNCAC has been signed by 140 nations.

Most widely attended anticorruption event: Republicans.

During the past two and a half decades, three U.S. presidents have welcomed 27 countries into the antibribery camp, as each in turn has acceded to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Convention and begun the process of implementing it. During President Clinton’s administration, 16 countries signed the convention; under his successor, President Bush, nine countries signed on; and under President Barack Obama, two countries, Israel and Russia, have acceded to the OECD Convention.

Most OECD victories: Democrats.

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