How many pardons can a US President give out?
Asked by: Demarcus Krajcik | Last update: July 8, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (23 votes)
There is no limit to the number of pardons a U.S. President can issue, as the power is plenary and "unlimited" under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. Presidents can grant unlimited pardons for federal crimes, excluding cases of impeachment.
How many pardons can each President give?
There are no limits to how many people the President may pardon. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, for example, pardoned 2,819 individuals during his time in office – more than any other President. President Barack Obama pardoned 212 individuals during his time in office.
Are there any limits on presidential pardon power?
A U.S. president can issue an unlimited number of pardons. The Constitution places no cap on the total amount of pardons or commutations a president can grant during their time in office, and presidents are not required to follow Justice Department recommendations.
How many pardons are you allowed?
In Ex parte Garland (1867), the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed the "unlimited" nature of federal pardons (except for impeachment cases) and broadened its scope to include offenses for which legal proceedings have not been initiated.
Can anybody override a presidential pardon?
No, a U.S. presidential pardon generally cannot be overturned, revoked, or appealed once it has been delivered and accepted. The power is rooted in the Constitution, making it absolute for federal crimes (except impeachment), and cannot be undone by Congress, courts, or a future president.
How Presidential Pardons Work | NBC News NOW
Which President issued the most pardons?
Franklin D. Roosevelt leads all U.S. presidents with 2,819 pardons, followed by Harry S. Truman with 1,913 pardons and Dwight D. Eisenhower with 1,110 pardons. These high numbers are partly due to long tenures in office and mass pardons for offenses like violating Prohibition or draft evasion.
What cannot be pardoned by the President?
Under the U.S. Constitution (Article II, Section 2), the President's pardon power is limited to federal offenses and cannot be used in cases of impeachment, state-level crimes, or civil liability. Additionally, a president cannot pardon future crimes, and it is widely debated—though untested—if they can legally self-pardon.
How many total pardons did Obama give?
President Barack Obama pardoned 212 individuals during his two terms in office.
Can a judge overrule a presidential pardon?
A presidential pardon—no matter how controversial—cannot be overturned. The Constitution gives the pardon power to the executive branch alone, not the legislative branch (Congress) or the judicial branch (federal courts, including the Supreme Court).
What are three things a president Cannot do?
Under the U.S. Constitution, a president cannot make new laws, declare war, or spend federal money without congressional approval. The powers of the presidency are strictly limited by the system of checks and balances and separation of powers.
What is the only exception to the president's pardon power?
Presidents enjoy an expansive constitutional power to grant clemency for federal crimes. Article II (Section 2, Clause 1) provides that the president “shall have the Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.” 4.
Does a presidential pardon erase a conviction?
A presidential pardon does not erase or expunge a conviction from a person’s criminal record. While it forgives the crime, restores civil rights (like voting), and eliminates future punishment, the record of the conviction remains, and the act is still considered a prior offense.
Did Bill Clinton pardon his brother?
Yes, President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton Jr., on January 20, 2001, his final day in office. The pardon cleared Roger’s 1985 conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, for which he had already served over a year in federal prison.
Who all has Trump pardoned?
As of May 2026, President Donald Trump has utilized his pardon power extensively across his first term and the beginning of his second term, granting over 200 acts of clemency (pardons and commutations). Key recipients include political allies (Stone, Flynn, Manafort, Bannon), Jan. 6 rioters, and figures in high-profile white-collar crime cases, including Todd and Julie Chrisley, and crypto founders.
How many pardons did Biden do?
Over his four years in office, President Biden issued 80 individual pardons and 4,165 commutations. His total number of pardons is historically low compared to other presidents, though he set records for overall clemency by using broad proclamations to forgive thousands of federal marijuana possession offenses.
Why did Obama pardon so many?
President Obama granted a high volume of clemencies (1,715 commutations and 212 pardons) primarily to correct what he viewed as unjust, outdated, and excessively harsh sentencing laws for nonviolent, low-level drug offenses. His administration focused on reducing mandatory minimum sentences that disproportionately impacted minorities and contributed to mass incarceration.
How many pardons did Bill Clinton give?
Bill Clinton granted a total of 459 acts of executive clemency during his presidency (1993–2001), which included 396 pardons and 63 commutations. Notably, 140 of these pardons were issued on his final day in office, January 20, 2001.
Which president never pardoned?
Yes, two U.S. presidents did not issue any pardons or commutations during their time in office: William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield. Both presidents did not grant clemency because their terms were cut short by death shortly after taking office, leaving them no practical opportunity to do so.
Is there a limit on presidential pardons?
There is no numerical limit on the number of pardons a U.S. President can issue, and the power is expansive, but it is not absolute. According to Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the President can only pardon federal offenses and cannot issue pardons in cases of impeachment.
How many people did Obama pardon vs. Trump?
Barack Obama issued exactly 212 individual pardons and 1,715 sentence commutations during his eight years in office. In contrast, Donald Trump has granted clemency to approximately 1,700 people across both his terms, which includes his first-term pardons/commutations and the ~1,500 mass pardons for January 6 defendants.
Can a President pardon themselves?
Whether a US President can pardon themselves is an unsettled legal question with no precedent, but most legal scholars argue it is not permitted. While some argue the pardon power is absolute, the Department of Justice (DOJ) concluded in 1974 that a president cannot pardon themselves due to the fundamental rule that "no one may be a judge in his own case".
How popular was Obama as President?
Barack Obama maintained moderate to high popularity during his presidency, with a two-term average job approval rating of 47.9%. He consistently saw high approval from Democrats (>80%) and low from Republicans, with overall favorability peaking near 76–78% early on and leaving office with a strong 58–59% approval rating.