Legal Definitions - official

An official is a person who has been given the power to make decisions or take actions on behalf of the government or a corporation. This power is granted through legal authorization by a public official, who is an individual elected or appointed to carry out a subset of the powers of the government.

For example, a member of Congress, a government employee, or a corporate officer can be considered an official. In the case of anti-bribery laws, an official is defined as someone who has the authority to make decisions or take actions on any question, matter, cause, suit, proceeding, or controversy that may be pending or brought before them in their official capacity.

One example of an official act is when a government official makes a decision that affects the public, such as passing a law or issuing a regulation. Another example is when a corporate officer engages in fraudulent activity that harms the company or its shareholders.

It's important to note that not all actions taken by an official are considered official acts. For an act to be considered official, it must involve a formal exercise of government or corporate power. For example, setting up a meeting or organizing an event does not constitute an official act unless it involves taking action on a matter or agreeing to do so.