About This Lesson
Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution gives the President the power to "grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. While this power serves as an important check on the other branches of government, the use of this power throughout history has often been controversial. This lesson explores the Constitutional foundations of this power, the restrictions and processes involved with pardons and historic examples of presidents granting pardons and commutations.
