It really depends on the bribery you are talking about, there's definitely some exceptions enshrined when you pay to grease the wheels for normal actions. http

It really depends on the bribery you are talking about, there's definitely some exceptions enshrined when you pay to grease the wheels for normal actions. http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/515229/a-resource-guide-to-the-u-s-foreign-corrupt.pdf http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/515229/a-resource-guid... The FCPA’s bribery prohibition contains a narrow exception for “facilitating or expediting payments” made in furtherance of routine governmental action.159 The facilitating payments exception applies only when a payment is made to further “routine governmental action” that involves non-discretionary acts.160 Examples of “routine governmental action” include processing visas, providing police protection or mail service, and supplying utilities like phone service, power, and water. Routine government action does not include a decision to award new business or to continue business with a particular party.161 Nor does it include acts that are within an official’s discretion or that would constitute misuse of an official’s office