Episode
Pardon Me?
- Podcast
- Civics on the Rocks
- Published
- Jul 7, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 4173
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://CivicsOnTheRocks.podbean.com/e/pardon-me/
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Summary
Mack and Steve show no forgiveness as they discuss one of the president’s broadest powers. REFERENCES Who does have the power? The President: Constitution Annotated. “ArtII.S2.C1.3.1 Overview of Pardon Power.” Congress.gov. https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S2-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013316/ It depends on each state and each state constitution, but each state governor has it: ACLU. “What’s at Stake.” https://www.aclu.org/issues/smart-justice/parole-and-release/clemency-and-pardons A commutation: Legal Information Institute. “Commutation.” Reviewed January 2025. Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/commutation A reprieve: Legal Information Institute. “Reprieve.” Reviewed August 2021. Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/reprieve A pardon: Editors of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Pardon.” Updated May 29, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/pardon Carter’s pardon of draft dodgers: Hernandez, Joe. “Seeking to Heal the Country, Jimmy Carter Pardoned Men Who Evaded the Vietnam War Draft.” January 4, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/01/04/1158874141/jimmy-carter-vietnam-draft-evaders-pardon What is the sentence for dodging the draft: Selective Service System. “Penalties for Failing to Register.” https://www.sss.gov/register/benefits-and-penalties/ Is there a governmental system where no pardon power is available? The short answer is no, but other countries regulate the power differently than the United States does: Mellen, Ruby. “Pardon Power Is Common Around the World. Few Leaders Use It Like Trump Has.” Updated February 18, 2021. The Seattle Times. https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/pardon-power-is-common-around-the-world-few-leaders-use-it-like-trump-has/ So, in Texas, the governor has the power to pardon, bu…