A jury of peers convicted and sentenced such criminals; all power resides with the citizen, therefore no executive, state or federal should be able to over-ride the effective will and judgement of the people- that is what appellate and supreme courts are for- in the case of error, due process violation or otherwise unjust prosecution.
We do not have a king ( divine rights etc), nor do our executives hold any higher power than the people via the courts and due process.
I am clearly convinced that money, influence and power make these commutation, pardons and other extra-judicial acts fully perverted and done only for ulterior motive ( well, maybe a few little fish are included to give the appearance of altruistic action).
US Constitution
Article II
Section. 2.
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
Yes, I have never understood the reasoning behind this authority-always sounded like a carry=over from a monarchy.
Care to enlighten or just cut and paste?
Yes, I have never understood the reasoning behind this authority-always sounded like a carry=over from a monarchy.
Care to enlighten or just cut and paste?