LogFAQs > #885522119

mooreandrew58 posted...

not really but better than a single person. some powers are just too great to allow a single person to have. with congress it would at least cut down on political favor pardons. as not everyone voting would owe the same person a favor. also with congress i'd want it to be more than simply say 51% in favor of it. make it 75% or something like that

If you set the bar at 75%, I would bet good money that no one would ever be pardoned. Getting 75% of congress to agree on *anything* is a tall order. Getting them to agree on a politically dangerous action that benefits a single convicted criminal is a non-starter.

Presidents have a lot of leverage in pardoning people, particularly in their second terms, because they don't have to seek re-election meaning they don't need to worry about whether or not the public approves of their choice. On the other hand, an overwhelming majority of congresspeople are intent on keeping their seats at the next election, so they are much more sensitive to how politically costly any particular action is. Any congressperson from a conservative, law-and-order district is going to vote against all or nearly all pardons and that's more than enough to scupper any pardon effort that needs 75% approval.

Not to mention, calling a vote on each pardon would be an enormous waste of time. With the president, it can be summarized in a single report and he can decide to pardon or not pardon as he sees fit (there is a process designed to do exactly this in place right now); with congress, that report needs to be read by every single house rep and senator and then the formal process of holding a vote needs to be held.
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