Whats the difference between clemency, pardon and commutation?
Clemency is the broad term that applies to a pardon or a commutation of sentence, both of which can be issued by a president. A pardon “serves as an official statement of forgiveness for the commission of a federal crime and restores basic civil rights (such as the right to vote). It does not connote innocence,” Roger Adams, the Justice Department’s pardon attorney, told the Senate Judiciary Committee. A commutation is a reduction in the length of a sentence for someone who has already been convicted. It is not an act of forgiveness and does not erase the conviction. Q: Where do presidents get the power to grant pardons? A: The Constitution says the president “shall have the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.” Q: Are there any limits? A: No. Presidents can pardon anyone for any crime that would have been heard in federal court. It is the president’s only absolute power. Q: What were the Constitution’s framers thi
