Concept in Definition ABC

The word venality is normally used when there is an act of corruption, usually a bribe. In this sense, if someone obtains some type of financial reward for failing to comply with his financial obligations, he is incurring a venality.

The noun venality corresponds to the adjective venal, which implies arranged for sale.

In the Roman Civilization and in the Middle Ages some public offices were bought

While the word venality is mirror of "bribery" or "bribery", in other historical times this concept was institutionalized and was not understood as a criminal action. Thus, to access certain relevant public positions it was necessary to pay a fixed amount of money and this system was known as venality of the charges.

Through it, a double objective was achieved: the ruler who facilitated this system of purchase of positions he got the beneficiaries to be on his side and, on the other hand, there was an increase in the coffers public.

The venality of public office was a

practice common in France until the seventeenth century, but this system gradually became extinct due to the negative consequences it generated: Families with economic power obtained political power by buying certain positions and these positions were hereditary in many occasions. Consequently, those who bought public office and their heirs became feudal lords with broad powers.

In Spain there was also the venality of public office as an official mechanism to achieve power. This system was especially used in the territory from America conquered by the Spanish. Thus, public offices related to the Justice, the public treasury or the estate military. Each charge had a fixed price established depending on its importance and the amounts that administration achieved by this concept were known as venal provisions.

From the venality of the charges to bribery

The system of purchasing public office in other times was part of the system of access to the administration. With the passage of time the beginning from equality among all citizens and the venality of public office ceased to exist.

However, his disappearance did not mean the end of corruption in the administration. In this sense, if a public official is bribed, whoever accepts the bribe commits a bribery offense.

In the crime of bribery, the state official who allows himself to be corrupted is punished by accepting the payment of a bribery or bribery and the individual who offers or agrees to pay a bribe to the official is also sanctioned public.

Photo: Fotolia - Mark Stay

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