Honorarium
A voluntary payment given to a person for services for which fees are not legally or traditionally required, often given to guest speakers, politicians, or public officials.
A voluntary payment given to a person for services for which fees are not legally or traditionally required, often given to guest speakers, politicians, or public officials.
Example: A former member of Congress might receive an honorarium for delivering a keynote speech at a university conference; current House Members may not accept one at all (House Rule XXIII, cl. 5).
Common misconception: An honorarium is the same as a salary or a bribe. An honorarium is a token of appreciation for a service that is not formally contracted or priced, distinct from regular compensation or an illegal quid pro quo.
Sources: https://ethics.house.gov/publications/code-official-conduct/ — House Rule XXIII, cl. 5: a Member, officer or employee "may not accept an honorarium for a speech, a writing for publication, or other similar activity; https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/1095 — Ethics in Government Act Amendments of 1993 (H.R.1095), congress.gov summary of federal honorarium rules