General Pardon Law and Legal Definition
General pardon refers to pardon granted by a government to a group or class of persons. General pardon is usually recognized for political offenses. It is the sovereign right of a government forgiving certain classes of persons who are subject to trial. The government officially grants general pardon and exempts political offenders from conviction. General pardon is also known as amnesty.
General pardon is deemed more feasible in certain cases. In certain political offenses, political offenders are exempted from prosecution because general pardon is deemed to be more feasible. It is also given for the purpose of public welfare. [Nixon v. Adm'r of General Servs., 433 U.S. 425 (U.S. 1977)].
