A form of government-operation whereby you are guaranteed "level" or "fair overall" treatment if you are generous with your "checks" to bribe local/state/federal officials, or if you are sufficiently rich (i.e., you have a large enough "balance" in da bank) that said officials feel obliged to make special allowances for you.
We may ostensibly have a "checks and balances" system, but it never seems to help out "da little guy" very much.
by QuacksO January 1, 2019