How US Presidents Wield Their Mighty Power to Pardon: QuickTake

The US president’s power to pardon is both one of the most absolute and misunderstood provisions of the Constitution. Rooted in the “prerogative of mercy” of English kings dating back to the seventh century, America’s founders wanted a robust pardon power to allow “easy access to exceptions in favor of unfortunate guilt” by the justice system, as Alexander Hamilton wrote.

Today, the power has become as polarizing as the men using it. In his last weeks in office, then-President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter from convictions on tax and gun violations. He also offered so-called blanket pardons to ...