When Donald Trump returns to the White House on January 20, 2025, he will have the dubious distinction of becoming the first person convicted of a federal crime to hold the office of the presidency. As presidents have the power to pardon people convicted of federal crimes, Trump’s reelection raises the question of whether or not presidents can pardon themselves. Issues & Controversies’ article highlighting the debate on this topic has just been revised for Trump’s upcoming second term.
Does the president have the power to self-pardon? Here is a sample of the arguments on both sides of the issue you’ll find in this Issues & Controversies’ article.
A Featured Controversial Topic from Issues & Controversies:
Presidential Pardons: Does the President Have the Power to Self-Pardon?
| SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENTIAL SELF-PARDONING ARGUE | OPPONENTS OF PRESIDENTIAL SELF-PARDONING ARGUE |
| The U.S. Constitution grants the president nearly absolute pardoning power. If the framers of the U.S. Constitution had wished to prohibit self-pardoning, they would have done so explicitly. If presidents commit crimes, it is Congress’s job to remove them from office through impeachment. | The U.S. Constitution does not grant presidents the power to pardon themselves. A self-pardon would be just the kind of abuse of power the framers intended to avoid. No one is above the law, and pardoning oneself for a crime would constitute a president’s failure to execute the nation’s laws. |
Issues & Controversies is the place to direct researchers who want to understand both sides of today’s crucial issues across a wide range of topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture. Students preparing for debates or putting together persuasive writing assignments as well as researchers who want an unbiased look at contemporary hot-button issues and conflicts will benefit from Issues & Controversies’ timely, in-depth, and balanced pro/con articles.
This pro/con article on presidential pardons links to rich related resources that enhance the debate. Students and researchers can explore:
- “By the Numbers” data, covering every number and statistic in the article related to presidential pardons
- Primary sources that provide context, including the Supreme Court docket for Trump v. United States (2024)
- Articles covering related court cases, including Trump v. United States
- Debate videos from the Open to Debate Foundation and NPR podcasts from Fresh Air on related issues
- Editorials from USA Today, The New Republic, Detroit Free Press, Boston Globe, and many other prominent newspapers and magazines from across the political spectrum
- A Reuters® newsfeed covering the latest breaking events and news stories
- A chronology of key events related to presidential pardons
- A bibliography and further resources for further exploration of the topic
- Discussion questions to inspire critical thinking and analysis
- And more.
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- Plan Your Academic Year with the Issues & Controversies Databases
- FREE guide: Four Keys to Using Issues & Controversies in Instruction: A Guide
- FREE webinar: Infobase Quick Hits: Think Critically, Debate Respectfully
- Learning Through Debate
- Teach Controversial Topics in the Classroom with Issues & Controversies
[Hero image source: Official White House Photo]
