In order to secure incorruptibility in political activities by public officials, etc. and develop trust in politicians among the public, the Law Punishing a Person in Public Office Who Gains Profits by the Good Offices (Law No. 130 of 2000) was enacted on November 29, 2000. Under the law, a member or chairperson of the House of Representatives, the House of Councilors or local assemblies shall be punished for receiving pecuniary benefits as a reward for asking for actions by public officials through their good offices by using their influence based on their power, when requested, with respect to a sales contract to be concluded by the state or a local public entity or an administrative action against a particular person. Publicly-paid secretaries of a Diet member shall also be subject to the provisions of this law. This law came into force in March 2001. Then, the revision of the law (Law No.91, 2002) in which private secretaries of National Diet members (persons who are employed by a National Diet member in order to assist their political activities) were added to the list of those subject to punishment was established and came into force in August 2002.