'''Amnesty''' refers to a legal absolution for a [[crime]], typically conferred upon a guilty party by a branch of government other than the judiciary. In the [[United States]], the [[President]] can grant individual criminals amnesty by a presidential [[pardon]]; similarly, the legislature can repeal, or carve out exceptions to, criminal laws, and provide for retroactive application, thus discharging guilt. | '''Amnesty''' refers to a legal absolution for a [[crime]], typically conferred upon a guilty party by a branch of government other than the judiciary. In the [[United States]], the [[President]] can grant individual criminals amnesty by a presidential [[pardon]]; similarly, the legislature can repeal, or carve out exceptions to, criminal laws, and provide for retroactive application, thus discharging guilt. |