Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the pardon power of the President.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This joint resolution proposes a detailed pardon-power amendment. The President would have to notify the President pro tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House within three days of a reprieve or pardon. Congress could nullify a pardon by joint resolution within 180 days. If the President fails to notify Congress within three days, the reprieve or pardon would have no force or effect. The President also could not reissue a pardon previously nullified by Congress.
Who Benefits and How
Congressional oversight committees benefit because they gain notice and potential nullification authority over pardons. Federal prosecution attorneys benefit if controversial pardons can be reviewed or nullified by Congress. Voters concerned about abuse of the pardon power benefit from transparency and a check on reprieves and pardons. Victim advocacy organizations benefit if Congress can respond to pardons viewed as undermining accountability.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Presidential officers must notify congressional leaders within three days after granting a reprieve or pardon. Pardon recipients face uncertainty for up to 180 days while Congress may consider nullification. The President pro tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House must receive and process pardon notices. Courts must resolve disputes about pardon validity, missed notice, and congressional nullification.
Key Provisions
- Requires presidential notice to House and Senate leaders within three days of a pardon or reprieve.
- Authorizes Congress to nullify covered pardons by joint resolution within 180 days.
- Provides that late-noticed pardons have no force or effect.
- Prohibits reissuing a pardon that Congress previously nullified.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring prompt congressional notice of pardons and reprieves, allowing Congress to nullify covered pardons, and barring pardons previously nullified by Congress.
Key Policy Areas
Constitutional Amendment, Executive Power, Congressional Oversight
Primary Purpose
Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring prompt congressional notice of pardons and reprieves, allowing Congress to nullify covered pardons, and barring pardons previously nullified by Congress.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Congressional oversight committees
- Federal prosecution attorneys
- Voter accountability organizations
- Victim advocacy organizations
Identified Costs
- Presidential officers
- Pardon recipient attorneys
- Senate leadership offices
- House Office of the Speaker
- Courts
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Congressional oversight committees, Presidential officers
Positive-direction: Congressional oversight committees
Negative-direction: Presidential officers
Federal prosecution attorneys, Pardon recipient attorneys
Positive-direction: Federal prosecution attorneys
Negative-direction: Pardon recipient attorneys
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology