Political white collar crime is defined as an offence involving government or a political party, engages in acts deemed illegal and improper for the purpose of their own personal gain. It can also be in a more wide aspect of an entire political party and improper or illegal act meant has a way to gain for their particular party. It is to be distinguished from state crime, in which it is the states that break both their own criminal laws or public international law (Friedrichs, 2010).
Political white collar crime exists in all branches of the United States government. In the Executive branch, the government has seen presidential scandals on many presidents, including Nixon and the Watergate scandal and Bill Clinton, who after lying while under oath was able to use immunity to escape prosecutions on criminal charges for such (Friedrichs, 2010). In the Legislative branch, United States congressmen have been bribed to vote on bills. Finally we have the judicial branch, though with a far less …show more content…
This social political power is essential in building the trust of the citizens of the area they hold office in, that being said; it is simple to use that power for one's own advantage (Ferrari, 1920). We can assume that there are two origins where political white collar crime may come from, structural and individual. In a structural system reason the behavior of the government is patterned and relatively stable in their roles and social statuses found in the political system (Ferrari, 1920). Another way of saying this is structural reasoning shows that people behave in ways that are predictable. This does not seem like a very reasonable explanation to the origin of political white collar crime. This theory would assume that everyone in government will behave in the same manner, so since the leaders of the past committed crimes, those new to office will follow in suit (Ferrari,
Political white collar crime exists in all branches of the United States government. In the Executive branch, the government has seen presidential scandals on many presidents, including Nixon and the Watergate scandal and Bill Clinton, who after lying while under oath was able to use immunity to escape prosecutions on criminal charges for such (Friedrichs, 2010). In the Legislative branch, United States congressmen have been bribed to vote on bills. Finally we have the judicial branch, though with a far less …show more content…
This social political power is essential in building the trust of the citizens of the area they hold office in, that being said; it is simple to use that power for one's own advantage (Ferrari, 1920). We can assume that there are two origins where political white collar crime may come from, structural and individual. In a structural system reason the behavior of the government is patterned and relatively stable in their roles and social statuses found in the political system (Ferrari, 1920). Another way of saying this is structural reasoning shows that people behave in ways that are predictable. This does not seem like a very reasonable explanation to the origin of political white collar crime. This theory would assume that everyone in government will behave in the same manner, so since the leaders of the past committed crimes, those new to office will follow in suit (Ferrari,