Presidential Pardon Power, Uses and Abuses

In the context of the Constitution's system of checks and balances, what explains the president's sweeping pardon power? Explore how pardons, while often merciful or remedies for judicial errors, have also been granted by presidents amidst some of the greatest political controversies in our history. Up for discussion, among others, are Andrew Johnson's mass pardons of ex-Confederates, Ford's pardon of Nixon after Watergate, Carter's mass pardons of Vietnam draft evaders, Clinton's pardon of fugitive Marc Rich, Biden's pardon of his son, and Trump's mass pardons of January 6 defendants. Understand what limits exist upon the pardon power, particularly after the Supreme Court's recent decision on presidential immunity.