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Simple English definitions for legal terms
executive pardon
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A quick definition of executive pardon:
An executive pardon is when the leader of a government forgives someone for a crime they committed. This means that the person will not be punished for what they did. The President can pardon people for federal crimes, and state governors can pardon people for state crimes. There are different types of pardons, like a full pardon that completely forgives the person, or a partial pardon that only forgives them for some of the punishment.
A more thorough explanation:
An executive pardon is a legal act of nullifying punishment or other legal consequences of a crime. It is usually granted by the chief executive of a government, such as the President or state governors.
For example, the President of the United States has the sole power to issue pardons for federal offenses. This means that the President can forgive someone for a crime they committed and release them from punishment. State governors also have the power to issue pardons for state crimes.
There are different types of pardons, including:
- Absolute pardon: A pardon that releases the wrongdoer from punishment and restores the offender's civil rights without qualification.
- Conditional pardon: A pardon that does not become effective until the wrongdoer satisfies a prerequisite or that will be revoked upon the occurrence of some specified act.
- Partial pardon: A pardon that exonerates the offender from some but not all of the punishment or legal consequences of a crime.
Overall, an executive pardon is a way for a government leader to show mercy and forgiveness to someone who has committed a crime.