Why is the President allowed to pardon convicted felons?
363720
The President and Govenors are allowed to issue pardons because part of their job responsibilities includes execution of the laws.  In light of that, they can choose not to impliment and carry out a law that is in place.  This is why such a clause is in the Constitution, and almost every single state Constitution.\n\nI don't think the Founding Fathers expected it to be abused the way past Presidents have.  And I don't think Libby will need to be pardoned, because I don't think he will be convicted of any crime.
719365
i believe that if a felon has kept a clean and regular life than they should be given back their rights back. i only beleive this because people do make mistakes and i believe that everyone deserves that 2nd chance.
370896
No\nAnd Convicted Felons Cannot Either
649174
PARDONED IN TEXAS ARE YOU KIDDING !!!!! in Texas you do the crime you will do the time .have nice stay
402975
I believe there are some cases where you can (legally) immigrate & you are a felon.  However, your best bet you be to send a letter to the President & ask him to pardon the ex-con.
181376
Genocide would probably be hard to stick.  If you get liberal enough in your definitions (get the pun?) you could "convict" pretty much any government that's more than a hundred or so years old with quite a bit.  This is all moot since governments aren’t private citizens and thus can’t be tried as such and your question was about presidents anyways. Saddam Hussein is a self-admitted murderer and thug.  The fact that he couldn’t get an impartial trial anywhere in the western world doesn’t change this fact.  Most American presidents act outside American law at some point in their administration (even if it’s just to steal silverware from the white house upon moving out).  And the answer is no, the fact that they aren’t convicted of these things doesn’t mean we can’t allow the Iraqi people to charge Saddam for as many of the destructive things he did as they care too.
1137367
If he did do jail time, his daddy would find a way to have his record either expunged or lost. You know that he was an alcoholic he probably spent time in jail one time or another. Not that it would make much difference because the more retarded ones think he is a born again christian, but I wonder why his past didn't come out more especiall before the last election. Hell they through everything at Clinton, even stuff that they had to make up.
622618
I would of course forgive them, and then convince them to submit to the authorities and face the consequences of their action. I would support jail, or even death if he murdered someone or committed some other crime worthy of capital punishment. If he were still a minor and the crime were committed against myself I would most likely press charges, though it would be difficult. Letting the guilty go free is a heinous crime in itself. It destroys the criminal and endangers the population. Just because you forgive someone does not exempt them from consequences. I am raising my son to understand that every action has consequences in the hopes that this will prevent him from becoming a criminal.
882218
The government was put in place to protect the people.  Do you want rapists and murderers near you?\n\nAre you saying jails are too expensive for our society to incarcerate felons?\n\nDo you have any alternative suggestions to bestow upon us?
452867
People in positions of power, regardless of race, often receive a lot of leeway in legal matters that would land most of the common people in jail. Consider Ted Kennedy (got away with manslaughter), the head honchos at Enron (getting off pretty light compared to all the people whose retirements have been ruined), O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake (they should team up to catch the "real killers") and the list goes on...
89656
The Constitution says, "high crimes or misdemeanors". But, basically, if he does something slightly wrong and Congress is against him, he can get impeached (like Clinton). Conversely, if he's commited several high crimes but Congress is with him, he won't be (like now).
148673
Yes he can.  There are no limits on the Presidential pardon power.\n\nEvery President has pardoned people.  There is a tradition of Presidents issuing a few pardons around Christmas time, and then also before leaving office.  \n\nThe most controversial pardons are probably Gerald Ford's pardon of richard Nixon, which kept Nixon from being tried for any of his crimes which led to Nixon's impeachment.  The pardon probably cost Ford the next election.  The first President Bush also pardoned some of the people involved in the Iran-Contra affair, notably Caspar Weinberger
461107
Many things go into the decision, the first is making sure that a specific statute or law applies to the offence. Second, unless they can be reasonably sure of a conviction, they will not proceed because they all rely on the arrest vs. conviction record when it's time to be elected again.
377013
If this were true, would they have offered him a pardon if he would stop his actions against the governement?  That would be like offering Charles Manson a deal if he would stop writing weird stuff on peoples bedroom walls in blood.  Does not make any sense.  You dont plea with murderers once they have been convicted.
991167
That is the usual time that pardons not excusable are handed out. I do not think so but he would be the 1st president to not pardon his friends.
369268
The criminal justice system is designed to pick on the economy weak. So if you are poor and have done something wrong or are accused of having done something wrong  chances are you will either retain a badly overworked attorney  or a lawyer on the way up or out. Because the DA wants to prove how tough she or he is to the voters your the one they will try hardest to convict because your an easier to do so. If you do have some money there is a good chance you can retain legal power that actually has time to work on your case and has friends in high places that he or she has helped put in office. As a result, you'll usually either get off or a lesser sentence.
1027231
Ask Bill Clinton, he LOVES to give pardons!  Hey!  He pardoned the terrorists that bombed the WTC the FIRST TIME!