pardon power
Executive forgiveness right
Pardon power is the constitutional authority to forgive crimes and release individuals from punishment.
In the United States, the president holds pardon power for federal offenses, while governors typically have it for state crimes.
The power includes full pardons, commutations of sentences, and reprieves.
It is among the most absolute executive powers, with few legal limits: The outgoing president used his pardon power to free political allies.
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- executive ordersPresidential directives with legal force
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- commutationSubstitution of penalties
sovereign immunity · Gerald Ford · mercy · second chance · get out of jail free · expungement · fairness · impeachment · legislative oversight · sentencing guidelines · constitutional law · public trust · lame duck · checks and balances · executive privilege · parole · rehabilitation · Nixon
- presidencyOval Office, president, Washington, executive branch, veto
- checks and balanceschecks and balances, impeachment, congressional oversight, executive privilege, veto override
- clemencyamnesty, clemency, reprieve, commutation, amnesty law
- ConstitutionBill of Rights, preamble, articles, U.S. Constitution, Article I
- French PresidencyFrench president, presidential election, presidential term, head of state, Emmanuel Macron
- gubernatorial powersexecutive orders, clemency, appointments, executive clemency, line-item veto
pardon powermandatory sentencing
Legally required punishment terms
criminal prosecution · death penalty · capital punishment · condemnation · execution
pardon powerjudicial discretion
Judge's decision-making freedom
judicial review · judicial authority · trial by jury · due process · judicial oversight
pardon powerretribution
Punishment for wrongdoing
justice · accountability · punishment · vengeance · retributive justice
pardon, power, pardons, pardoned, pardoning, pardonable, unpardonable, pardoner, powers