Pardons - Can someone please explain to me...

[jaxind]

Can someone please explain to me why Pardons are part of our Constitution. If the phrase "Nobody is Above the Law" is a true statement, then why was Pardoning ever allowed to be a part of our Constitution?

[TreasonousBastard]

1. The power to pardon is an ancient and universal power of the state...

usually the King back then. Since in times past hanging was a popular sentence, the pardon was often used to avoid killing people who may have been wrongly convicted o may be otherwise handy to have around.

Nowadays appeals in the courts are more often used, but pardons still exist. Even the law is not above the law.

[melm00se]

2. although this article

is from 1977, it covers pardoning power from the 7th century C.E. forward

http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2444&context=wmlr

[Orsino]

3. Our justice system is imperfect.

If any single person should be able to override an unjust sentence with a pardon or commutation, it ought to be our Chief Executive.

[kentuck]

4. It would be better if there was someone with a final say, such as a Supreme Court.

[bluestarone]

5. Is it possible to do away with pardon power?

I feel this gives way too much power to one person! Can this be done by constitutional amendment? (i know that WON'T HAPPEN but is it at all possible?) Also maybe list a reason why the presidential pardon is a GOOD THING? Maybe i'm wrong in my thinking.