Article 72 says that the president shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence. ... Pardon: means completely absolving the person of the crime and letting him go free. The pardon powers of the President are based on Article Two of the United States Constitution (Section 2, Clause 1), which provides: The President ... shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of impeachment. The Constitution itself contains only two restrictions: The pardon must be an offense against the United States — that is, a federal crime and not a state crime. Also, the president cannot use the pardon power to save himself or another official from impeachment.
Imperial Presidency is a term applied to the modern presidency of the United States. ... Schlesinger, Jr., who wrote The Imperial Presidency to address two concerns: that the presidency was uncontrollable and that it had exceeded its constitutional limits. An executive order is a signed, written, and published directive from the President of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. ... Executive orders are not legislation; they require no approval from Congress, and Congress cannot simply overturn them.
“ought not to have the power of pardoning, because he may frequently pardon crimes which were advised by himself. It may happen, at some future day, that he will establish a monarchy, and destroy the republic. If he has the power of granting pardons before indictment, or conviction, may he not stop inquiry and prevent detection? The case of treason ought, at least, to be excepted. This is a weighty objection with me.” Wednesday, June 18, 1788, George Mason… President Donald Trump falsely designated himself as the "chief law-enforcement officer of the United States" while speaking with reporters on Tuesday.
I MUST admit, I am CONFUSED, as to why the Framers of the Constitution, whose stated goal was NOT to create a monarchy within this newly evolved nation, permitted its leader (A President,) to legally have the POWERS of a King! To provide an almost open book relying only on the prerogative and persuasions, bias’s and even bigotries of the President, as the ultimate decision on what is the law and what is lawlessness, who should pay for the crime, almost arbitrarily be free from any consequence has blown me away. Trump has proven, as Nixon, HAD, that the person we elect to this nation’s highest office, is oftentimes of the lowest of morals and values. I sadly have begun to believe that some POWERS provided to the President, must be re-addressed, because those who seek the office, are not to be assumed, of having strong morals, values, character, and in the CASE of Trump, and allegiance to this nation, but ONLY to that of the highest bidder. So much at stake for freedom, this November 2020, and for me reshaping the job description of the Executive Branch is a major priority…no matter which Political Party assumes the mantle of power!
