I think this question is related to the movie "Selma:The Bridge to the Ballot".
People in power use laws, custom and procedures to maintain a status quo that
favored them. They believe that everyone has a price. They are willing to bribe anyone to either bend some rules, or hasten procedures to get their desired results.
If someone can't be bribed, the family and job opportunities of said individual will be threatened forcing said individual to conform to what the person in power wants to happen.
