Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§599 Promise of Appointment by Candidate
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 29 — ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES › § 599
Summary
A candidate promising a public/private job or using their influence to get someone hired to win support faces a fine, up to 1 year in jail, or both; if willful, up to 2 years.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §599
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, being a candidate, directly or indirectly promises or pledges the appointment, or the use of his influence or support for the appointment of any person to any public or private position or employment, for the purpose of procuring support in his candidacy shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 249, 252, of title 2, U.S.C., 1940 ed., The Congress (Feb. 28, 1925, ch. 368, title III, §§ 310, 314, 43 Stat. 1073, 1074). This section consolidates the provisions of section 249 and 252 of title 2, U.S.C., 1940 ed., The Congress, with changes in arrangement and phraseology necessary to effect consolidation. Words “or both” were added to conform to the almost universal formula of the punishment provisions of this title.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” after “candidacy shall be” and for “fined not more than $10,000” after “willful, shall be”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 599
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102