The Presidential Pardon: The Short Clause with a Long, Troubled History

Description

Title: The Presidential Pardon: The Short Clause with a Long, Troubled History
Author: Saikrishna Bangalore Prakash
Publisher: Harvard University Press, 2026
Format: Paperback
Language: English
ISBN-13: 9780674306363

The Presidential Pardon by Saikrishna Bangalore Prakash is a timely and accessible study of one of the most powerful tools in the American presidency. Focusing on the Constitution’s Pardon Clause, the book examines how a short constitutional provision has produced a long and often troubled history.

Prakash explores how the pardon began as a mechanism of mercy, designed to soften harsh punishment and support reconciliation. Over time, however, it has become a controversial political instrument used by presidents to protect allies, reward supporters, make public statements, and reshape debates around justice and accountability.

Drawing on constitutional law, legal history, and modern politics, this paperback is a strong choice for readers interested in US government, executive power, criminal justice, political history, presidential authority, and the rule of law.