Pardon

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/pardon

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the corrective and restorative function?Serves to rectify judicial errors, mitigate excessive penalties, and facilitate societal reintegration
2. What is the implicit admission of guilt?In some jurisdictions, accepting a pardon may require an acknowledgment of guilt
3. How does a pardon work?A pardon is given by an executive authority, like a president or governor. It can happen before or after a conviction, and it changes the person’s legal status.
4. Why do people get pardoned?People may be pardoned to fix mistakes in the justice system, like wrongful convictions or very harsh sentences, and to give them a chance to rebuild their lives.

Miscarriage of Justice: An error in the legal process leading to an unfair or unjust outcome for an individual.
Capital Punishment: The state-sanctioned execution of an individual as punishment for a crime.
Clemency: The power of an executive to reduce or forgive the punishment for a crime.
Due Process: Fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.